But Mr. Lautenberg said that he was gratified to have had the chance to present his views alongside Mr. Forrester's, and that he was confident he still had the stamina and determination to handle the rough and tumble of politics. As he walked past 150 demonstrators on his way into the studio, one reached out and punched him in the arm, but Mr. Lautenberg brushed it aside.
"I was ready to start swinging back," he said later with a smile.
