June 23, 2008 - 1:32pm

With Clinton gone, Corzine going all-out for Obama

Gov. Jon Corzine in Newark todayGov. Jon Corzine in Newark today 

Gov. Jon Corzine does not yet have a defined role in the campaign of Sen. Barack Obama, according to the State Democratic Committee Chair Joseph Cryan (D-Union).

But in the last week, Corzine has revved up his advocacy for the presumptive Democratic nominee: likening Obama to the late Bobby Kennedy in a pump-up-the-troops speech in Newark, cheering on a statement of support for Union workers in Atlantic City, and presiding over an Obama campaign conference call Sunday, toting his presidential candidate’s plan to limit oil market speculation.

All of that was in addition to his participation at an economic summit with Obama last Thursday in Chicago. 

Today, Corzine appeared on MSNBC’s "Morning Joe" with Joe Scarborough, fleshing out an Obama-conceived four-step program that would, among other things, close an "Enron loophole" that protects some energy futures trading from oversight by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

"I think everyone believes there's too much speculation in the oil markets, and a lot of it flows directly from that particular loophole," Corzine said on Sunday’s conference call.

The governor, along with Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), attended a parade rally on Saturday in support of union members at four of the city’s biggest casinos who are seeking signed labor agreements.

At the event, Menendez read a statement of support from Obama.

"I encourage the employers in the gaming industry and the UAW negotiators to come together," said Obama in the statement, "and to recognize that work should be rewarded with a few basic guarantees, such as: quality, affordable health care when you get sick; fair treatment in the workplace and wages that can raise a family; and a dignified and secure retirement."

Comments

Any port in a storm


This is just another attempt by Johnny boy to get out of town. He created such a damn mess in Trenton that he'll do anything to get the hell out. God help the country if this "financial genius" were to become Secretary of Treasury. He would probably do a sale/leaseback of the White House to Saudi Arabia for a tanker full of oil and 2 camels.

06/23/08 3:29 pm

Watch Out


All the early New Jersey supporters of Obama might get pushed out of the way by the Johnnie Come Lately's (Steve and Corey and Jerry: Stand your ground).

06/23/08 3:34 pm

Probably Loves Those High Gas Prices, too, Like Obama!


Well, terrific!

The Governor has endorsed Barack Obama’s proposal to close the Enron loophole, which Obama plagiarized from John McCain. Unable to cook up a single original idea to control spiraling gasoline prices, Obama stole one from his opponent -- like no one would notice! 

If it is such a good idea now, how come Obama didn’t get it passed during the past two years while the Democrats were in change of Congress, and while prices were going up?

Bad judgment?  Slow on the draw?

You would think he would have wanted at least one significant piece of legislation to his credit!

And, similarly, why didn’t Jon Corzine propose it while he was in the United States Senate? Could it be because Barack Obama really likes the high gasoline prices -- yep, he sure does and added that he only regrets that they shot up so quickly. He probably wishes they had spiked during lame duck, so it wouldn’t become an issue during the campaign.

Governor . . . You like those high prices too? You must if you endorse him.

Otherwise, rather than talking about speculating loopholes, you would be proposing doing something sensible -- like drilling here at home, or expanding refinery capacity here in the United States, or looking into the significant improvements in nuclear power.

The public certainly gets it -- here is how the American public feels about increased drilling here at home, now. Instead, the Democrats want to continue to ban any further drilling, and put all their eggs into the pipe dream basket of alternative sources.

We should develop them, but we can’t drop what we have now until those alternative are developed. The rest of us have to survive until those are proved and come on line.

by Trochilus

06/23/08 4:27 pm

Got No Hope!


Jon Corzine couldn't lead his way out of a paper bag. He had a unique opportunity to LEAD our state out of an abysmal fiscal situation and instead decided to manage the problem right into the waiting arms of Republican spin machine.

I hope the Obama campaign thinks long and hard before it ties itself to the hip of this falling star who has only himself to blame for his failure as Governor of NJ.

If Jon Corzine were to run Obama's NJ campaign my bet would be that he contracts it out to the highest bidders.

P.S. Where on earth is Bret Schundler?

06/23/08 5:54 pm

THAT'S LIKE...


GWB STUMPING FOR MCCAIN!

JON, HOW MANY MILLIONS DID YOU HAVE TO PAY TO BUY INTO HIS FAVOR?

06/24/08 2:19 pm