Alittle too confident?

[Keystone Phil]

Corzine might be the frontrunner in the '05 Gubernatorial race in NJ but isn't it alittle much for the DSCC to put NJ as an "open Dem" seat in 2006?

[Keystone Phil]

Everyone is missing the point. The DSCC shouldn't be calling it an open seat because it won't be unless Corzine loses this year and retires. If elected, he will appoint someone to hold the seat and that person will probably run in 2006. Therefore, the seat is not open. So to say that it is open at this time or will be in the future (unless a seat holder is appointed who declares that he or she will not run next year) is false.

Also, Corzine will likely appoint Bob Menendez who will be the seat holder but doesn't have any real advantages, especially facing Kean. The only thing I am worried about is a Corzine-Andrews deal in which Andrews gets appointed because he didn't run for Governor this year. If this happens, the seat is slight lean Dem. At this time, I think the seat is slight lean GOP.

[Keystone Phil]

Hopefully, Corzine will see that Menendez is just another corrupt North Jersey Democrat and appoint Andrews instead.  Robert Andrews is one of the better politicians in New Jersey and he certainly has potential. 

Corzine and Menendez are North Jersey pals. If Menendez gets appointed, Kean has the edge in the General election. Menendez is so vulnerable that Andrews and others might run against him in the primary.

[Keystone Phil]

Congressman Frank Pallone announced back in December that he is running for the U.S. Senate seat (no matter who Corzine appoints). So there will at least be a Democratic primary.

I read that Corzine could appoint acting governor Richard Codey and that he is extremely popular.

We're counting Pallone as a serious candidate now?

Codey may be appointed but I doubt it. He isn't extremely popular but he is popular enough for the Dems to stay in good shape next year. If Codey was appointed, it would probably be to fill the seat for awhile. I doubt he'd run for it.

[Keystone Phil]

I don't really know anything about Pallone except that he was one of the biggest opponents of CAFTA.

What do you know about him?

Most important thing to know about him in regards to this race - He is the weakest of the candidates. I honestly have no idea what his purpose for running is. He declared way too early and will probably be stuck in the middle of a nasty primary. I guess he's just trying to be the "Progressive" voice in the race.

[Keystone Phil]

I hope Kean crushes Menendez, I really do.

I hope you rot in hell.


j/k

Seriously, Kean wouldnt be all that bad.  Ive heard is very liberal.

He is viewed as a moderate Republican and more conservative than his father. How you can suggest he is very liberal or even liberal boggles my mind.

[Keystone Phil]

Corzine should let Memendez run in 2008 and appoint Codey or Andrews instead.
.

Lautenberg might actually run again in 2008. He is doing some serious fundraising.

Appointing Codey wouldn't be smart. The Dems best bet is Andrews.

[Keystone Phil]

He is viewed as a moderate Republican and more conservative than his father. How you can suggest he is very liberal or even liberal boggles my mind.

Freepers are still wondering who will be the Republican candidate for Senate in 2006.

So Freepers see Kean as a liberal and that makes him a liberal? Those guys are so Schundler obsessed and bitter. At the Schundler event on primary night, someone yelled, "Bret for Senate!" and I have no doubt that is who the Freepers are expecting to run but just because they are in love with the Bret Schundlers of the world doesn't mean Kean is a liberal.

[Keystone Phil]

What makes Andrews such an attractive candidate (I don't know anything about the NJ congressmen)?

He's a young, more moderate Democrat close from part of south Jersey. Enough said.