Pulling another Torricelli

From John Fund at OpinionJournal's Political Diary:

New Jersey Democrats are huddling to see how much damage appointed U.S. Senator Bob Menendez has suffered from last week's revelation that a local U.S. Attorney has subpoenaed records of his financial dealings with a local nonprofit organization that has benefited from his political actions. Some Democrats are quietly talking about asking Mr. Menendez, who trails Republican Tom Kean Jr. in the latest polls, to step aside much as scandal-tarred Senator Bob Torricelli did in 2002. Mr. Torricelli's replacement on the ballot, former Senator Frank Lautenberg, went on to win in November.

Officially, Democrats are denying any such intention, although party lawyers are poring over statute books to determine how easily they could replace Mr. Menendez if he were to drop out after the legal deadline next Wednesday. It's clear that Democratic leaders are worried. . . .