What an incredible meteoric rise for a man who, in just nineteen months, has gone from a career federal prosecutor -- a first tier bureaucrat whose clout among the political elite was so limited that he was unsuccessful in his bid for a Superior Court Judgeship) to #1 on the list of the most powerful people in New Jersey politics. Dick Codey said recently that Stuart Rabner’s problem was that he didn’t have a godfather; now – a beneficiary of literally being in the right place at the right time – his godfather is the Governor of New Jersey.

Rabner became Jon Corzine’s Chief Counsel just months after a random meeting while the two volunteered at a soup kitchen (What if Corzine had a better offer for that time slot on his schedule?)

Eight months into the fledgling administration, Zulima Farber resigned after a traffic stop snowballed into the story of the year – and Rabner became the state Attorney General. Next – if Nia Gill and Ron Rice say yes – he could spend the next 23 years as Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court.

Rabner’s power comes from being Corzine’s trusted consigliore, from his shear intellectual integrity, his ability to win bi-partisan support (he’s not just Corzine’s guy, he’s a close ally of the U.S. Attorney too), and his seemingly permanent honeymoon with media. What makes him even more fascinating – and more powerful – is that he has accumulated power without making enemies – not an easy task for even the most seasoned New Jersey politician, yet alone a political newcomer like Rabner.

Until just a year and a half ago, Brad Abelow didn’t even live in New Jersey. He was an ex-Goldman Sachs guy that Jon Corzine trusted enough to put him in charge of the state budget. At first, it wasn’t an easy assignment: he found himself in the middle of a budget dispute between Corzine and the Democratic legislative leadership that resulted in a shut down of state government. But just one year later, and despite the late start, Abelow has shown that he seems to get politics – almost as well as he got making money.

Much of the credit for the Budget Accord of 2007, which is expected to pass a state budget ten days before the legal deadline (we’ll miss the newspaper photos of late night budget sessions) goes to Abelow, who has shown that people respect his brains, his negotiating skills, his fairness, and the accuracy of his information. He is completely loyal to Jon Corzine, the only politician in the state that he actually cares about --when was the last time New Jersey had a State Treasurer with no personal agenda? If/when Tom Shea leaves, watch Abelow be short-listed for Chief of Staff.

In blue state New Jersey, there is no Republican more powerful – or more feared – than the corruption-busting, headline-making, technically apolitical United States Attorney (and possible ’09 Gov candidate). So far, not a single public official charged with corruption has won an acquittal – although some of the people he has gone after were, of course, never charged. Nationally, 2007 hasn’t been the best political environment for federal prosecutors, and his pre-election dealings with Bob Menendez, combined with his removal from the list of U.S. Attorneys the White House may have wanted to fire, raised some questions of partisanship.

One testament to the fear of Christie’s wrath: he can even call a Harvard-educated Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman a “third-rate bureaucrat” and not be publicly criticized by a single member of the majority party.

A decade ago, when Joe Ferriero became County Chairman, a Bergen Dem boss would have been an oxymoron – the GOP controlled county government for seventeen years. Through force of personality, discipline, and a knack for raising money, Ferriero has turned a Republican stronghold into a Democratic empire; now the GOP is not just the minority, they are irrelevant. Even The Record, no fan of Ferriero, says the GOP should find a new leader like the one the Democrats have. Courted by presidential candidates, and regular dinner partner of Corzine and/or Shea, Ferriero knows he is the key to continued Democratic dominance: Republicans can’t win New Jersey without carrying Bergen. But the boss is still a little cocky – sometimes he brags too much – he has become a campaign issue, and he’s turned Loretta Weinberg into a giant-killer that he positively can’t control.

NJ 101.5 FM’s The Jersey Guys offend huge segments of the state’s population, often don’t care about the facts -- but that’s exactly what gives them so much shwack in the political arena. What they say has actually influenced elections – though not necessarily for the person they were trying to hurt (see Jun Choi) – and any way you look at it, that’s real power.

Because of her close alliance with powerful State Senator Raymond Lesniak, the Union Democratic chair is one of the most powerful party leaders in the state.  And her team has not lost a general election since 1995.

Completing the Goldman Sachs takeover of state government, it is the job of this Corzine friend to convince people that the state of New Jersey’s economy is indeed sound.  And some Trenton watchers think he is the unofficial Lieutenant Governor: he often shows up at meetings that were originally scheduled with Corzine.

As one of Corzine’s most trusted cabinet members, he has accumulated power with control of the Turnpike, Parkway, NJ Transit and the South Jersey Transportation Authority.  Don’t be surprised to see the state’s most powerful Asian Indian American on the Lt. Governor short list two years from now.

The anti-machine liberal blogger has emerged as the Pied Piper of the progressive wing of the New Jersey Democratic Party, with no hesitation of criticizing fellow Democrats if he thinks they’ve wandered off his reservation.

The New York Times reporter doesn't write every day, but when he does, it has huge impact.

Not every former NFL player winds up on ESPN.  He’s Cory Booker’s best friend and ex-law partner, and a  favorite of Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy. That’s like being the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Delaware.

The go-to guy for Democrats who want support from the African American community, and a man no candidate wants to see trash talking them at a press conference the week before an election.

The ex-NJGOP Executive Director is playing in the World Series of politics, and doing extraordinarily well.  If Giuliani is elected President, could he help NJ Republicans actually become a major party again?

The smart and articulate ex-operative now runs the state's largest and most powerful gay rights organization, and played a key role in getting New Jersey to pass – in an election year -- a civil union law that other states were afraid to touch.

Even with McGreevey gone, the Port Authority Chairman remains amazingly influential – especially as the PANYNJ decides who will build a new tunnel under the Hudson, and how the World Trade Center site will return.

The Ocean County Republican Chairman doesn't lose general elections, and has firm control over his county government – two things that make him unique in Blue State New Jersey.

She writes the Star-Ledger's editorials, and in New Jersey, important people read those editorials early every morning.

The Democratic fundraiser and ex-White House aide talked Jon Corzine into running for office; now he's a key player in Barack Obama's presidential campaign, and he makes decisions on the investment of billions of dollars of New Jersey money.

The Verizon boss is well-liked by NJ's power brokers and elected officials, and scored real legislative success by getting his company into the cable TV business

Ask John Bennett why the Asbury Press Publisher belongs on this list.

Runs one of New Jersey’s most politically influential law firms.

He's the best election lawyer on the Democratic side, with a knack for figuring out how to make any campaign contribution – to his side -- look legal.

He's not just Chris Christie's best friend and “campaign manager”-- he has an uncanny ability to pick GOP primary winners; if his primary winners won after June, he’d be much higher on the list.

With his influence on New Jersey politics secure, the head of the state Carpenters Union leader is now playing on a national stage as an officer of the UBC.

He runs MWW Group, one of the state's top public relations and lobbying firms, and is a key Hillary Clinton fundraiser

The venerable legislative staffer runs the State Senate for Dick Codey, making sure that the Legislature runs fine during those days – and nights – that Codey is the Governor.

OLS has incredible influence over what laws get passed in New Jersey, and while he’s no Sam Alito, Sr., he’s done well learning to make the majority party happy.

He's stepped back from his day-to-day political activity in Hudson County, but he’s still respected and influential.

Major Democratic fundraiser who heads Hillary Clinton's N.J. operation four years after playing the same role for John Kerry.

When NBC/New York decides to run a major political story, more people than all the print newspapers combined see his work product.

New Jersey’s leading anti-death penalty advocate successfully moved the issue to the forefront of the New Jersey legislative agenda – after years of being below the radar screen.

The onetime front office lawyer is now partners at a law firm with Jim Florio and the ever-intriguing Michael Perrucci.

The Record columnist and editorial writer isn't afraid to piss people off.

The likeable Democratic strategist and lobbyist wields enormous influence in the State Senate and in Bergen County. 

The ex-New York Times reporter runs the Connecticut-based Quinnipiac University Poll, which has more influence over campaigns & elections in New Jersey than any other independent polling operation.

The Triple Dipper: He's the political boss of genial Somerset County, the former state GOP Finance Chairman, and the head of one of the state's most powerful lobbying firms.

The Rider Political Science Professor is the most frequently quoted man in New Jersey – a testament to his intelligence, his understanding of New Jersey politics, and his ability to say anything in twenty words or less.

The very able Chief of Staff to Cory Booker has a seat at the table of power the state’s largest city (at least officially, until the 2010 census) seeks a real renaissance – not the one Sharpe James promised.

The legendary lobbyist and public relations executive knows his way around New Jersey, and has the second best institutional memory in the state; that's what happens when you're over 60 with 40+ years experience in Trenton.

Politically active, and runs the state's largest public utility company.  But what was he thinking by bankrolling Seema Singh?

Heads the Democratic organization in the largest town in Middlesex, and a close ally with Senator Joe Vitale and Mayor John McCormac.

While he doesn’t have a website, everyone talks to him and he’s basically unspinnable.

The fiercely partisan Democratic operative gets her clout as a daily talking head on FOX and MSNBC.

The Democratic lobbyist is very well liked -- maybe even more now that he's dropped his partner, the not-at-all powerful, self-promoting Republican lobbyist Steve Some.

One of Corzine's favorite policy advisors – maybe because he’s often the smartest guy in the room, even if Gary Rose does disagree.

Rep. Bill Pascrell's Chief of Staff is the main N.J. staffer on the powerful House Ways & Means Committee.

He’s the money man behind Xanadu and the Hilton’s Atlantic City casino operation.

The onetime Chairman of the House Transportation Committee (and, twice, the second place finisher in gubernatorial primaries) can – seemingly with ease – get grant money for local and county governments.

Highly regarded labor leader, who started as an intern at the New Jersey State Federation of Teachers, could succeed Charlie Wowkanech someday.  And her daughter, Erin, Political Director for the Philadelphia AFL-CIO, could be on a power list in Pennsylvania

The President of New Jersey's most powerful union, the NJEA, is still new at the job after replacing Edith Fulton; watch for her rapid climb up the list