Springsteen Says No To Candidacy

TRENTON, NJ (Top40 Charts) - Bruce Springsteen decided he wasn't born to run for political office after all.
Doug Friedline, a consultant who helped professional wrestler Jesse Ventura win the Minnesota governor's race in 1998, had hoped to recruit Springsteen to run as an independent in November's U.S. Senate race. The Boss would have faced off against incumbent Sen. Robert Torricelli, a Democrat, and whichever Republican emerges from the June 4 primary.

However, a spokeswoman for the 52-year-old singer told the Asbury Park Press of Neptune on Wednesday that he had no desire to seek office. In a statement sent to the newspaper, Springsteen paraphrased a rebuff by Civil War Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman to the GOP convention of 1884: "If nominated, I will not run. If elected, I will not serve."

Friedline, who also served as campaign manager for the unsuccessful New Jersey gubernatorial bid last year of then-state Sen. Bill Schluter, said volunteers from Schluter's campaign thought of drafting Springsteen because they think the current contest is boring.

The coalition calling itself "The Independence for New Jersey" had launched a petition drive to get the 800 signatures of registered voters required by June 4 to place Springsteen on the ballot.