Who will the Democratic nominee for governor of New Jersey?

[DownWithTheLeft]

I honestly think the question needs to be asked.  Corzine is in worse shape than Torricelli was in 2002 when they made that switcharoo.  So who will be the Democratic nominee come November?

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Who has the power or ability to force Corzine out?

[Keystone Phil]

Who has the power or ability to force Corzine out?

Does he even really want it anymore? The guy clearly has wanted to be in DC for the past few years anyway.

[East Coast Republican]

No.  No.  No.

This isn't 2002.  Corzine doesn't have a 'reason' to resign (no indictment or huge ethical violations).  If he simply resigns, Im confident New Jersey will call the bluff of the Democratic machine and still vote for Christie.  Jersey appears to be tired of Corzine and I'd imagine there'd be a backlash against anyone perceived as trying to help him/take his place.

What you really have to worry about is the President giving Corzine a BS appointment in DC.  Corzine then says he has to leave to save the nation and someone else is substituted for him.  Given Obama's increasing problems with healthcare, his dropping approvals and (what appears to be) a backlash in Jersey against Obama campaigning for Corzine and I doubt Obama wants to touch untouchable Corzine.

Even if the President did follow through with this, I don't think it necessarily be an automatic victory for the Democratic Party-I don't THINK but it could be one or be close.

Bottom Line: I believe Corzine will be in this race up to election day but Im no psychic

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Codey and Moran should of been the nominees of the Democratic party, but the party establishment forced Deeds and Corzine on us. Codey should of  been governor in the first place.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Who has the power or ability to force Corzine out?

Does he even really want it anymore? The guy clearly has wanted to be in DC for the past few years anyway.

I always wondered why did he give up his safe Senate seat and moved to governor mansion

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

I guess after the Torricelli and McGreevey troubles he would bring honor and integrity to the state capital, notwithstanding his heritage had something to do with it.  And Doug Forrester who ran multiple times was an easier opponent than the other mavericks in the state.  He didn't count on the economic calapse and Christie turning out to be the maverick Jersey would want.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

I guess after the Torricelli and McGreevey troubles he would bring honor and integrity to the state capital, notwithstanding his heritage had something to do with it.  And Doug Forrester who ran multiple times was an easier opponent than the other mavericks in the state.  He didn't count on the economic calapse and Christie turning out to be the maverick Jersey would want.

He also stupidly believed that he'd be able to make a difference and get stuff done.

Instead, he just presided over a slow, steady slide. Even when things were good in New Jersey, people were complaining and upset. Now that something's actually wrong, they're looking for the torches and pitchforks.

[Dan the Roman]

Codey and Moran should of been the nominees of the Democratic party, but the party establishment forced Deeds and Corzine on us. Codey should of  been governor in the first place.

Moran would be down 10-15 points right now.

[Keystone Phil]

Who has the power or ability to force Corzine out?

Does he even really want it anymore? The guy clearly has wanted to be in DC for the past few years anyway.

I always wondered why did he give up his safe Senate seat and moved to governor mansion

New Jersey has the most powerful Governorship in the country. Plus, some thought Corzine wanted to run for President...

[JohnnyLongtorso]

Codey and Moran should of been the nominees of the Democratic party, but the party establishment forced Deeds and Corzine on us. Codey should of  been governor in the first place.

Um, sorry? If the party establishment was behind anyone in Virginia, it was Moran. Look at his laundry list of endorsers:

http://www.brianmoran.com/public-endorsements

Anyway, is Bill Bradley doing anything?

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Anyway, is Bill Bradley doing anything?

The same thing he was doing in 2002 when he turned down repeated requests to be a last-minute stand in.

[East Coast Republican]

Anyway, is Bill Bradley doing anything?

The same thing he was doing in 2002 when he turned down repeated requests to be a last-minute stand in.

That's right.

Governor Corzine is starting to look like toast as the days progress towards November.  Must not get too excited thought.  The Democratic Machine in Jersey still has some tricks up their sleeve.

[cinyc]

For what it's worth, the local news TV scuttle is that the South Jersey Democrat boss isn't happy with Corzine's cratering poll numbers and wants to out him.   One of the possible replacements was Newark Mayor Corey Booker.  I missed the name of the other potential replacement, but I don't think it was one of the poll choices (possibly Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney). 

I don't think it's going to happen, though.  Corzine would need to save face.  The only way it does is if Corzine is appointed to something, and I don't see that happening.  Obama's cabinet is pretty much full, and Corzine's not a lawyer, so he can't really be nominated as a judge.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Appoint him to ambassadorship to Canda just like Bush did Cellulucci when it looked like Mitz was going to run for gov of Massachusetts.

[cinyc]

Appoint him to ambassadorship to Canda just like Bush did Cellulucci when it looked like Mitz was going to run for gov of Massachusetts.

Obama has already nominated an ambassador to Canada - a Chicago lawyer who was the Obama campaign's deputy national finance chairman. 

The problem with sending Corzine packing to a prominent federal government job is that most have been filled or are currently in the process of being filled with VIPs.

[RJ]

Are there any Democrats who actually support Corzine? Not the party, but Corzine himself.

What would it actually mean if NJ had a Republican governor, anyway?

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Are there any Democrats who actually support Corzine? Not the party, but Corzine himself.

What would it actually mean if NJ had a Republican governor, anyway?

On a political level, it would mean that Republicans would actually have a NJ fundraising apparatus in place for the first time since 2003.

It's a pretty powerful governorship, though the State Senate and State Assembly will be firmly in Democratic hands.  Not veto-proof hands, though.

Presumably, if Christie wants to get stuff done, he needs to follow the Kean model of working with Democrats. And I imagine that Democrats in the Assembly and Senate will be glad to, on a limited basis, give Christie enough rope to hang himself.

[rbt48]

My recollection is that for most of his 8 years in office, Kean had a Republican legislature.

Are there any Democrats who actually support Corzine? Not the party, but Corzine himself.

What would it actually mean if NJ had a Republican governor, anyway?

On a political level, it would mean that Republicans would actually have a NJ fundraising apparatus in place for the first time since 2003.

It's a pretty powerful governorship, though the State Senate and State Assembly will be firmly in Democratic hands.  Not veto-proof hands, though.

Presumably, if Christie wants to get stuff done, he needs to follow the Kean model of working with Democrats. And I imagine that Democrats in the Assembly and Senate will be glad to, on a limited basis, give Christie enough rope to hang himself.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

My recollection is that for most of his 8 years in office, Kean had a Republican legislature.

Are there any Democrats who actually support Corzine? Not the party, but Corzine himself.

What would it actually mean if NJ had a Republican governor, anyway?

On a political level, it would mean that Republicans would actually have a NJ fundraising apparatus in place for the first time since 2003.

It's a pretty powerful governorship, though the State Senate and State Assembly will be firmly in Democratic hands.  Not veto-proof hands, though.

Presumably, if Christie wants to get stuff done, he needs to follow the Kean model of working with Democrats. And I imagine that Democrats in the Assembly and Senate will be glad to, on a limited basis, give Christie enough rope to hang himself.

Kean had a GOP Assembly upon his re-election, but the Senate was Democratic the whole term.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Codey would be an excelent pick, but due to his money and incumbency unfortunatelly Corzine

I like him, but he's not good candidate against Christie

[Badger]

Cross posted from NJ Gov race thread due to obvious relevance.

http://www.politickernj.com/wallye/31742/corzine-says-hes-not-getting-out-editors-note-expletive-not-deleted-read-your-own-risk

When this thread was originally posted I had to role my eyes. I thought: "There go Jersey area conservatives railing about Corzine's low poll numbers and still fuming over the Lautenberg/Torch switch 7 years ago".

Now with this latest corruption scandal I have to admit, who knows?

Despite Corzine's Shermanesque and theroughly classy response, I would love to see the latest polls now that this scandal caught up someone else in his administration. It's not like he had a particularly good chance to begin with, and now he may be the single largest impediment to Democrats holding the statehouse.

I'm sure Obama can find some federal posting for Corzine to allow him saving a modicum of face (even though it'll fool no one as to the real reason). And then.....Booker/Weinberg anyone? Or even Weinberg/Booker?

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

I doubt the latest corruption busts seriously worsened Corzine's re-election bid. Something akin to busting out the headlights on a car with a dead battery. Maybe it moved a 10-point race out to a 14-point one? Sixteen? There are only so many marginal voters out there—the Democratic Party's floor can't be much lower.

Here are my own thoughts as an ex-journalist who's followed NJ politics, including Governor Corzine, for quite a while:

I'm not sure that Corzine would want to drop out any time soon—it'd look as if he was involved in the corruption that brought all these other people down. Further, don't look for Obama to throw Corzine a life preserver—he doesn't want to get involved with the corruption stain New Jersey's already suffering from (just look at Biden canceling his visit). If Obama helps out Corzine, it'll be after the election. And it'll be a quiet, non-controversial minor appointment as is the norm with political losers.

Obama's best option here is to look at Virginia. A GOP victory in New Jersey is easily written off to outside factors. A Dem win in Virginia totally negates any PR spin that Republicans can milk in ousting an unpopular governor surrounded by corruption in his own state party. This one is out of Obama's power to save—investing time and effort in NJ is going to be worth nothing but trouble.

As far as who would step in if Corzine stepped out... Booker has already put out some feelers and backers have run some polls. It's going to be very hard getting the Northern Dems and the Southern Dems to agree on a replacement—there'd have to be some kind of deal worked out that would almost guarantee that Weinberg gets thrown by the wayside. The only person of influence backing the selection of Weinberg is Corzine himself.

You'd probably expect Dick Codey to be the last minute replacement, but does he want to do it? Can the NJ Dems really suffer another blatantly political switch when the GOP candidate has some manner of personal popularity? Where would the money to run a last-minute campaign come from?

In any case, I get the feeling that Corzine greatly resents the suggestion that he step aside. Wall Street forced him out. The Democratic Party is trying to force him out. If he goes along with this, what will he have left?

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

A good article on just this subject.

http://www.observer.com/2009/politics/corzine-wont-follow-script

"To be sure, plenty of Democrats want Mr. Corzine out. But they lack the leverage they enjoyed with Mr. Torricelli, who knew he’d need friends in high places to carve out a lucrative post-Senate living in New Jersey.

That approach is a non-starter with the mega-rich Mr. Corzine, who, like many politicians, tends to believe he’s far more popular—and far more skilled at communicating with the public—than he actually is."