As New Jersey mourns the death of Sen. Frank Lautenberg, attention is also turning to the state's popular Republican Gov. Chris Christie — and whom he might tap to fill the longtime Democratic senator's seat. Christie's decision could have a lasting impact. Complicating matters, however, are two apparently conflicting parts of New Jersey law on special elections. One provision says that if the vacancy occurs more than 70 days before a statewide election, it will be filled on that election day, Nov. 5, 2013. But the GOP points to another provision that says the election would only occur then if the vacancy occurred 70 days before the primary, set for this week. Republicans prefer the latter interpretation, which would set the special election a year later — meaning a Christie appointee, likely a Republican, could be in office for more than a year. It's unclear whether Christie will make an appointment, but if he does, some GOP sources say, his safest path would be to pick a temporary placeholder who promises not to run in the special election.
