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Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D) is scrapping a previously planned fundraiser involving the resale of VIP tickets to Bruce Springsteen’s concert at Giants Stadium this Sunday to campaign donors.
The Bergen Record originally reported Sunday that The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA) had approved a request from the Lautenberg campaign to purchase 40 tickets at $108 apiece. The campaign intended to distribute the seats to supporters who donated $1,500 or more.
Soon after approving the request, the NJSEA reportedly became concerned about the precedent it would set by allowing a political candidate to mark up tickets for the purpose of campaign fundraising and began reviewing its ticket-dispensing policies.
The Lautenberg campaign withdrew its request for the tickets Monday.
“The campaign is also asking the Sports Authority to re-examine its practice of reserving tickets, in order to ensure that its tickets are available to all New Jersey residents, not just to VIPs,” Lautenberg spokeswoman Julie Roginsky said in a statement.
Lautenberg’s challenger, Dick Zimmer, expressed “outrage” when news of the fundraiser first broke, and he offered a pointed response to its cancellation.
“[Lautenberg’s] fat-cat contributors will have to be dancing in the dark with sad eyes as they recall the glory days of free tickets and backroom deals,” Zimmer said in a statement. “As for me ... no surrender.” |
