By Rachel Kapochunas, CQ Staff

New Jersey Republicans blasted Democratic Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg Wednesday over what they believe to be “sleazy personal attacks” against their new Senate candidate recruit, Andrew Unanue.

State party GOP chairman Tom Wilson sent a harshly-worded letter to Lautenberg alleging that a story appearing in the news Wednesday about Unanue’s past was “planted” by the Lautenberg campaign.

“I was disgusted this morning to read the story planted by your campaign concerning Andy Unanue and the family disagreement involving their successful business, Goya Foods,” Wilson wrote Wednesday. “It is telling that after nearly 25 years in office, the best you have to offer the people of New Jersey is a tired, old gutter campaign replete with sleazy personal attacks. Frankly, the legal proceedings from Andy’s family business dispute are no more relevant or appropriate campaign fodder than your divorce proceedings.”

Wilson told CQ Politics that an “unimpeachable source who has no axe to grind” informed him that Lautenberg had a hand in a piece that appeared in The Newark Star-Ledger Wednesday about Unanue’s record at family business, Goya Foods, Inc.

“I believe that Senator Lautenberg is aware of it, has seen it, knows about it, was involved with it, it passed through his hands,” Wilson said.

In addition, Wilson said he saw the same information being distributed to multiple media outlets and believes the attack is characteristic of Lautenberg’s campaigns.

Asked for comment on Wilson’s charges, Jim Willse, editor of the Star-Ledger, said, “We don’t discuss the sources of our stories.”

Lautenberg campaign officials directed CQ Politics to Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesman Matthew Miller for comment.

“Tom Wilson should spend less time writing silly attack letters and more time vetting his unqualified candidates,” Miller said. When asked about the allegations the information was “planted” Miller noted the information in the news article appears to come from publicly available court documents.

Unanue served as Chief Operating Officer at Goya but he and his father were later fired from their positions by family members. The matter ended up in court.

The Star-Ledger reported that during the trial, a vice president at Goya testified Unanue “came to work drunk at least five times, possibly more.” Unanue reportedly testified that he was not drunk at work but did come to work “hung over.”

The piece also notes testimony in which Unanue’s business acumen was questioned.

“It’s sad that the Democrats are resorting to this so quickly,” Unanue told CQ Politics Wednesday, noting that the matter was a family dispute.

Unanue added that the only reason he “can think of” that would prompt Democrats to attack him is “Democrats are scared that the Republicans have a candidate that can take Senator Lautenberg out.”

Unanue said he and his cousins involved in the suit have moved past their family disagreements and Unanue has since given his cousins his “full support.”

Unanue is currently President and CEO of consulting firm AU & Associates, LLC, and serves as Operating Executive of Palladium Equity Partners, a private equity and investment firm. He has been named by Hispanic Magazine as Businessman of the Year.

Unanue’s personal wealth makes him an attractive GOP candidate for the race because the state has several expensive media markets and a well-funded and well-known Democratic incumbent in office.

Unanue said he was encouraged to run by state Republicans, and received similar encouragement from Hispanic leaders across the country and D.C. lawmakers. Unanue noted that he received calls from fellow Hispanic Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida and John Ensign of Nevada.

He announced his candidacy Sunday in a letter to state party chairman Tom Wilson.

Republicans had been struggling to rally behind a Senate challenger ever since wealthy real estate developer Anne Evans Estabrook withdrew her Senate candidacy March 5 after suffering a Transient Ischemic Attack or “mini stroke.”

Two Republican candidates in the race, State Sen. Joseph Pennacchio, and college educator Murray Sabrin, a former libertarian gubernatorial candidate and unsuccessful Senate candidate, were regarded by some as the party’s top prospects after Estabrook’s withdrawal, but members of the GOP worked to recruit Unanue, who has the same capacity as Estabrook to personally finance a campaign.

According to Unanue’s campaign, in New Jersey he has already been endorsed by the county GOP chairmen in Bergen, Atlantic, Camden, Ocean, Monmouth, SAlem and Cape May counties as well as by members of the state legislature.

Two major Estabrook staffers are already involved in Unanue’s campaign: Mark Duffy, Estabrook’s former campaign manager; and John C. Raue, who handled communications for Estabrook.

Unanue, who has never before held elected office, says that his business experience will aid him in the Senate, especially on fiscal matters. He believes that government spending and taxation are too high and hopes to help make President Bush’s tax cuts permanent.

He added that securing the border and fixing the economy are top concerns for the nation and he hopes to find a way to stop the “exodus” of businesses and people from his home state.

Republicans attempted to topple Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez in 2006, but Republican state Sen. Tom Kean Jr.’s campaign for Senate was unsuccessful.

The state is regarded as strong Democratic territory where voters supported Democrat John Kerry for President in 2004 with 53 percent of the vote and Menendez won his Senate seat with the same percentage of support in 2006.

CQ Politics rates this year’s Senate race Democrat Favored.

Republicans note that some state polls have indicated that voters believe Lautenberg, 84, is “too old” to serve while others show him with tepid approval ratings. A February poll from Quinnipiac University found that voters gave Lautenberg a 39 percent approval rating and a 31 percent disapproval rating. The remainder of respondents did not approve or disprove.

But the majority of polls also show that voters are unwilling to drop their support for the long-term Senator. The Quinnipiac poll showed that 37 percent of voters would choose Lautenberg for re-election over an unnamed Republican candidate, 30 percent would choose the Republican and 15 percent said it would depend on the candidate.

Lautenberg was first elected to the Senate in 1982 and retired at the end of 2000. He was then called back to service in 2002 when Democratic Sen. Robert G. Torricelli was forced to abandon his re-election bid over ethics concerns. Lautenberg stepped into the race five weeks before election day and won the seat.

Lautenberg is himself personally wealthy from his paycheck processing firm and has helped finance past campaigns. He put $1 million towards the 2008 campaign in 2006. Lautenberg reported more than $4 million on hand as of Dec. 31, 2007.