By Rachel Kapochunas, CQ Staff

New Jersey’s Democratic delegation literally stood in solidarity with Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg at a Washington press conference Thursday. The incumbent is facing a strong primary challenge from the only Democratic state member who was not in attendance: nine-term Rep. Robert E. Andrews .

Andrews, 50, was one of many Senate aspirants who was preparing for the possibility that Lautenberg, now 84, would retire in January. Lautenberg was first elected to the Senate in 1982 and retired in January 2001. But he was called out of retirement the following year when Democratic Sen. Robert G. Torricelli was forced to abandon his re-election bid amid ethics problems. Lautenberg stepped into that race five weeks before the election and won.

Seven members of Congress and the mayor of Trenton spoke at the press conference at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) headquarters, reaffirming their support for Lautenberg and repeating charges that Andrews touts the GOP line and therefore, is wrong for New Jersey.

“On too many occasions he (Andrews) sided with Bush and the Republicans,” Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. of the 6th District said, later adding that he “often wondered” that if New Jersey didn’t lean Democratic, whether Andrews would change his party affiliation.

Sen. Robert Menendez , 8th District Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. , 9th District Rep. Steven R. Rothman , 10th District Rep. Donald M. Payne , 12th District Rep. Rush D. Holt , 13th District Rep. Albio Sires and Trenton Mayor Douglas Palmer were also in attendance.

Menendez said Lautenberg has “taken on” special interests, opposed the war in Iraq, and voted in support of his own beliefs even when they weren’t politically popular.

“New Jersey needs a proven, effective progressive Democrat who consistently stands up to the Bush Republicans,” Menendez said. “That Senator is Frank Lautenberg.”

The press conference drew attention to themes echoed in a new television commercial Lautenberg released today in which he positions himself as a consistent opponent of the Republican agenda.

Andrews’ campaign manager told CQ Politics Thursday that Andrews respects his Congressional colleagues and said that the press conference’s themes are “what’s to be expected” nearly two weeks before the June 3 primary.

Murphy noted that “there are clearly members who are there who probably aspire moving to (the Senate) sometime in the future.” He characterized their criticisms as “background noise” noting that Andrews’ colleagues have never before lobbed these types of attacks during Andrews’ 18 years of service.

Andrews has pointedly positioned himself as the candidate of “change” and argues that voters demand fresh ideas and new energy in Congress.

Murphy conceded that the congressman’s record shows he has not voted with the party as strongly as Lautenberg, but argued Andrews’ “votes and philosophy are very much in keeping with the progressive principles of the Democratic party.”

Andrews has rallied supporters, many of whom hail from his Southern New Jersey base, including members of the state legislature, county chairs and additional elected officials and union members.