(09/14/06) TRENTON ? Two top Republican leaders in New Jersey are pushing Democrats to pass a bill that would prevent last-minute Senate candidate switching.

State Senate Minority Leader Leonard Lance (R), along with Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce (R), are pushing the measure amid rumors Democrats may replace Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) in the Senate race. The state GOP hopes to prevent a repeat of the election four years ago in which Democrats switched struggling candidate Robert Toriccelli to hang on to their Senate seat.

The call for a swapping ban occurs amid ethics accusations levied against Menendez. Republican Senate candidate Tom Kean Jr. says Menendez receives $350,000 in rent payments from a house he rents to a government-funded non-profit organization. Democrats claim the GOP?s attempt to change election laws is merely a publicity stunt.