Celebrity News

Senate on Cory Booker’s menu

Newark Mayor Cory Booker has fielded criticism for openly talking about running for Sen. Frank Lautenberg’s seat, and spending a large proportion of his time out of New Jersey — but it didn’t stop Booker from heading into Manhattan Monday night and discussing his planned 2014 campaign in the middle of a busy restaurant. Lautenberg, 89, has announced he plans to retire, and Booker was overheard telling guests at Bill’s on East 54th Street about his ambition. One diner told us, “Cory confirmed he is running for Senate, but added he can only say this unofficially at the moment.” Booker also talked about his dramatic weight loss, telling dinner guests he “has lost 40 pounds and has 30 to go.” Booker recently spent a week living on food stamps when he said he lost a lot of weight. But Booker — who also doesn’t drink and is cutting back on caffeine — quoted Abraham Lincoln, saying, “It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues.” On Tuesday night in his Newark state-of-the-city address, Booker defended his time spent elsewhere — especially the estimated 20 percent he spends visiting New York — saying, “I am relentless and unapologetic in my pursuit of development for our city.” Reps for Booker declined to comment.