From Eric Dondero:

New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg may be the next Democrat to go. Which would bring the number of 'D's in the Senate down to 58.

Here's the original AP story via Right blogger Don Suber:

Lautenberg was taken to the hospital Monday after his office said he fell. The office said Tuesday the senator was treated for a bleeding ulcer...

Now as NJ.com reports:

U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, New Jersey’s 86-year-old senior senator, was diagnosed with treatable cancer in the stomach in the last 24 hours and will begin chemotherapy today.

As Suber sardonically notes:

Let’s see, this went from a fall, to bleeding ulcers, to cancer in the stomach within 5 days.

It sounds Politburo-ish to me.

Of course, Republican Governor Christie gets to appoint a replacement if and when Lautenberg were to resign. Speculation in NJ GOP circles centers on two names: Tom Kean, Jr. and State Senator Joe Kyrillos.

The Right blog SaveJersey.com writes:

Tom Kean, Jr. would be an exceedingly strong choice for Christie... The younger Kean is a proven party leader and a solid fiscal conservative.

However, the immediate concern for Dems, one less vote for the "Jobs bill" and for Health Care reform.