Anne Evans Estabrook, candidate at the U.S. Senate, pulled out yesterday from the Republican primary after she said she suffered a minor stroke earlier in the week.

Her departure left Republicans wondering if they should go with another candidate or join together with State Sen. Joseph Pennacchio (R., Morris).

She was a possible threat to U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D., N.J.)., due to the fact that she is a wealthy real estate developer from Spring Lake, who could fund her campaign and comes form the GOP’s moderate wing.

On Monday morning as Ms. Estabrook, 63, was working with her trainer, she observed that the left side of her face was hanging down and then her left arm started shaking.

She went to the emergency room at Monmouth Medical Center and doctors confirmed to her that she had a transient ischemic attack, or a ministroke.

She said that this was a difficult decision to make and that she will miss the campaign.

Ms. Estabrook said: “I don’t want to focus on this right now, but it could be the harbinger of a major stroke. I really need to do whatever they tell me to do for my body right now. That has to be my first priority,” The New York Times reports.

The campaign “was exciting and I was looking forward to it. I was energized - and then, Monday morning, everything changed. I need not cry over spilt milk,” philly.com informs.

On Wednesday Republicans were trying to see who is fitted as a candidate for the party nomination or whether to coalesce with one of two conservatives: State Senator Joseph Pennacchio, a dentist and a veteran legislator from Morris County, and Murray Sabrin, a finance professor at Ramapo College.

Ms. Estabrook offered her support to the eventual Republican nominee defeat Mr. Lautenberg, 84.

Meanwhile Mr. Lautenberg said: “I join the people of New Jersey in wishing Anne Estabrook a speedy recovery and good health.”