The early establishment favorite to take on New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg has pulled out of the contest after suffering a minor stroke, leaving a conservative State Senator as front-runner for the Republican nomination. Businesswoman and developer Anne Evans Estabrook announced she would not make the bid in a statement yesterday.

Estabrook said she is "all too familiar with the seriousness of this particular condition." Estabrook's husband died of a stroke, though hers, doctors say, will leave her without any long-term consequences. Lautenberg and Republican rivals Joe Pennacchio, the state senator, and Ramapo College Professor Murray Sabrin all issued statements wishing Estabrook the best of health.

Her exit from the race comes as something of a blow to national Republicans. Senator John Ensign, chair of the NRSC, had given Estabrook's campaign a contribution, drawing fire from Pennacchio and Sabrin for supporting what they called the more moderate candidate. Still, without Estabrook as the Republican nominee, perhaps the NRSC will avoid temptation to spend money in what has, of late, become a black hole for millions of dollars thrown after lost causes.

Lautenberg, at 84 years old, is seeking his fifth Senate term amid what has been a career of lackluster poll numbers. A recent Quinnipiac University poll showed Lautenberg receiving just 37% of the vote against a generic Republican, who would pull in 30%. His low numbers can be attributed, in some part, to Garden Staters' general disdain for pollsters -- undecided voters are routinely high until just days before the general election -- though Republicans have often decided spending against Lautenberg is a good investment.

With Estabrook out of the race, the GOP may decide their money is better spent in other contests.