Fox New commentator and longtime television personality Geraldo Rivera said on his radio show Thursday that he is considering a run for the U.S. Senate, representing the state of New Jersey. "Fasten your seat belt," he said, adding that he is and has been "in touch with some people in the Republican Party in New Jersey. I am truly contemplating running for Senate against Frank Lautenberg or Cory Booker." The 69- year-old said that at his age, "if I'm going to do it, I've got to do it." He explained that if elected he would try to nationalize New York City's controversial "stop and frisk" police practice that has been characterized by its critics as a racial profiling technique and praised by its proponent as a successful crime fighting tool. "...I'm telling you, Chicago and Philly and the other cities can do what New York did dramatically cutting homicides," he said. Fox New contributor Judge Andrew Napolitano who was featured on the show said he would do everything in his power to help him win the seat if he ran. Rivera has made controversial comments in the past, most recently regarding the Trayvon Martin shooting last year. In a tweet, he said that the hoodie the unarmed teenager was wearing when he was shot dead was as responsible for his death than the shooter himself. He later apologized.
