Updates: Sweeney Possibly Looking at U.S. Senate Bid, Opens PAC

Senate President Stephen Sweeney could be poised for a United States Senate run after opening a federal Political Action Committee (PAC), PolitickerNJ reported Friday afternoon.

Sweeney confirmed the news at Gloucester County's freeholder reorganization meeting, saying he's keeping his options open in looking at a potential bid for the seat currently held by U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, whose term is up in 2014. The 87-year-old Lautenberg is the oldest serving member in the Senate, and has not said what his plans are after his current term expires.

In an interview with the Star-Ledger, Sweeney said it was a matter of prep work, and that others have asked him to consider a run for federal office.

“It’s to keep my options open, to explore some opportunities,” he said.

The news broke just before the freeholder reorganization began, though it didn't shock any of the Democrats in attendance.

Gloucester County Freeholder Director Robert Damminger, Sweeney's long-time ally and former deputy director when Sweeney led the Gloucester County board, lauded Sweeney's work at the state level and said he'd do well at the federal level.

“Whatever office he wants to go for, I'll be there to back him any way I can,” Damminger said. “We would be well served with a U.S. Senator–or a governor–from Gloucester County.”

West Deptford township Democratic Party chair Gerald White said Sweeney is a logical choice, given he could potentially deliver a unified South Jersey and gain significant support from organized labor.

Senators from the southern half of the state are rare; the last was Woodbury's Robert Clymer Hendrickson, a Republican who served from 1949 to 1955. Still, White said Sweeney shouldn't be underestimated in a run for federal office.

"Steve's a formidable candidate for whatever he decides to run for," White said. "I think it's tremendous."

Sweeney has served as New Jersey's Senate president since 2009, and was first elected to the Senate in 2001, in what was then the most expensive legislative race in state history.

He's also been rumored to be a challenger for the governor's office, potentially when Gov. Chris Christie is up for reelection in 2013.