Rice thinks Booker could bridge the legislative accomplishment with high-profile spokesman.

“I would dare say he would either be an incredible innovator in the Senate like a Ted Kennedy was … and change people’s lives,” said Rice, “or he could be a big bust and be somebody like a Cruz who is just there to get in front of the cameras and not be a legislative force. He’s coming in at the time and as a particular person who can affect that change, it’s really up to him.”

Text Size -

+

reset

Former Sen. Mo Cowan (D-Mass.), who had his seat only a few months after John Kerry was named secretary of State, was the eighth African-American to serve in the chamber and left the seat last month.

“As an African American I am excited that 2013 may be the first year when three black Americans served in the Senate in one calendar year,” Cowan said in a statement. “Based on what I know of the Mayor, I expect him to be a strong voice for New Jersey residents, seek opportunities to work across the aisle while staying true to his Democratic principles, and to continue to be a great leader in the Black community.”

If Booker is to accomplish either media darling or legislative powerhouse, his staff will be key. And Democrats on the Hill already are starting to speculate what staff Booker might bring into his Senate office.

Booker already brought in two Washington veterans to run his communications in New Jersey in the buildup to his campaign. To handle his campaign communications, he hired Kevin Griffis, who worked for the Department of Commerce and Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign. For his mayor’s office earlier this year, Booker hired James Allen, who was communications director for Rep. John Carney (D-Del.) before heading to Newark.

But it remains unclear whether he’d be a reliable liberal voice or try to stake out a spot as a bipartisan pragmatist.

Booker forged a strong friendship with Republican Gov. Chris Christie, often drawing the ire of fellow New Jersey Democrats for his refusal to criticize the bombastic governor in public.

Christie and Booker appeared in public together to talk about schools and the decision by the governor to call a special election — instead of appointing a two-year place holder — was seen as a gift.

One New Jersey Republican strategist in the state praised Booker’s bipartisan relationship with Christie, saying he expects the mayor to try to forge similar relationships in Washington.

“Booker is going to buck his party leadership,” said the Republican, who did not want speak publicly while Lonegan still has a chance to win in October. “I don’t think he’s going to be just some back-bencher kind of Democrat, and I think he’s going to seek to plow his own path as a member of the Senate.”

“I think he’ll be a celebrity type of senator, he’s not just going to sit quietly in the back row,” the strategist added.

Wisniewski, who was among the Democratic New Jersey officials who encouraged Booker to push back at Christie, pointed out that the mayor hasn’t held strong to the party ideology.

“He’s worked hard to pave a different path for himself as an elected official as someone who tries to askew rigid party ideology for a pragmatic approach to solving problems,” Wisniewski said. “I expect that he will take that skill with him to the U.S. Senate, where reaching across the aisle can often result in achieving results.”

Some insights into how Booker might work within the Senate can be gleaned from how he has been seen in Newark. In fact, most New Jersey political operatives agree Booker would have had a hard fight to win a primary to reelection.

In Tuesday’s primary, Booker performed better in some counties that he doesn’t represent. He took about 70 percent of the vote in his county, Essex, but did better in southern Atlantic County and suburban Passaic County.

“We’re glad he’s gone, or at least I am,” longtime New Jersey state Sen. Ron Rice, a Democrat who represents Newark, told POLITICO. “God bless him. Thank God he’s out of Newark.”

Democrats in New Jersey all say the same thing: Booker didn’t enjoy the day-to-day work of being mayor and running the city’s bureaucracy.

“He didn’t like the work, he liked the position,” said one New Jersey Democrat, who didn’t want to be quoted as bashing Booker.

And he didn’t enjoy playing ball with state party officials either, evidenced by the crowded primary to the Senate seat in a state where regional politics often clears a path. The only political party boss in the state to endorse Booker was George Norcross, who controls the southern swath of the state.

When he traveled to the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte last year, Booker spent more time speaking to delegations from other states than interacting with his own, attendees remarked.

“The further away you get from Newark, the better Cory looks,” one Democrat said. “He’s not very popular in Newark and not very popular in the political establishment in New Jersey.”