Fox News correspondent Geraldo Rivera said the death of Democratic Sen. Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey "effectively ends" his idea of running for the GOP nomination in a possible Senate race, reports TVNewser.

With Lautenberg’s death, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will pick Lautenberg’s replacement. There isn’t likely to be a primary fight unless he picks Rivera, the story says.

"I think this effectively ends my speculation that I would run for the Senate,” Rivera said on his radio program. “I think it’s a very, very long shot that Governor Christie would even think of appointing me."

He added, “I haven’t been vetted. I’ve only toyed with the idea of running. However, if I ran, I have a very specific platform and I think listeners of this program are aware that you can be a Republican and not be a tea party conservative.”