Booker's In!

Cory Booker is going to run for U.S. Senate. It's going to be a brutal primary if longtime  New Jersey Democratic senator Frank Lautenberg stays in the race. GOP may use gun issue to win senate races in RED States.

Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-New Jersey) is the oldest living member of the U.S. Senate. So far he hasn't signaled any intentions of retiring from the polarizing circus.

But Newark, New Jersey mayor Cory Booker is dropping the bid to run for governor. He's thinking really seriously about running for the senate seat if Lautenberg should announce retirement. The 43 year old mayor of the "Brick City" is thinking about furthering his political ambitions.

The Superman of New Jersey is an ally of President Barack Obama and Republican governor Chris Christie.

Booker is an African American mayor who gained a reputation for his personal involvement in public service, including going on a 10-day hunger strike outdoors to draw attention to the dangers of open-air drug dealing, living on a "food stamp" budget to raise awareness of food insecurity, shoveling the driveway of a constituent upon request, allowing hurricane victims into his home, and saving a woman from a house fire at his own risk.

Booker has filed for the papers to run in 2014. Booker wants to an elected Black senator since Barack Obama and first for New Jersey.

Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-New Jersey)

Republicans currently have no members of the House of Representatives being Black. Tim Scott was the former Congressman from South Carolina. He was selected to become the U.S. Senator after Jim DeMint resigned from the Senate to work for The Heritage Foundation.

Booker intended on running for governor to take on Chris Christie. But Hurricane Sandy and the handling of the crisis elevated the governor's rating into the high 70s. It would be considered political suicide to take on an incumbent who is liked favorably by constituents.

New Jersey is a likely Blue State for Democrats. The tough fights lie in the Red States. Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-West Virginia) is retiring putting his seat in a competitive race.

Senator Mark Pryor (D-Arkansas), Senator Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Senator Mark Warner (D-Virginia), Senator Kay Hagen (D-North Carolina), Senator Tim Johnson (D-South Dakota) are going to have competitive races.

Republicans have no members signaling retirement. But Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky, Minority Leader) are likely going to face tougher fights.