Bonnie Watson Coleman

U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg addresses the crowd as Gov. Jon Corzine looks on.

TRENTON -- Burnishing his blue collar roots and seniority in Washington, U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg today launched his re-election bid at the Trenton Marriott, promising to lead the fight for New Jersey's working families.

"I will build on my work of the last few years, to stand strong against those who attack our values that short change our state and to deliver the results that improve people's lives," said Lautenberg, who was first elected to the Senate in 1982.

Gov. Jon Corzine likes the idea of Bob Menendez running for Vice President
Gov. Jon Corzine said that he’s not involved with Hillary Clinton’s potential choices for Vice President. But he thinks Bob Menendez would be a good one.

“First of all, it would be a great choice, but I have no idea. I’m not involved in that,” said Corzine before boarding a train that whisked him down to Washington, DC for the Chamber of Commerce’s Walk on Washington. “Clearly Bob has played a meaningful role in the national campaign because of his leadership of Hispanics for Mrs. Clinton, and he’s an able spokesperson on any of the issues he speaks out about.”

Robert F. Kennedy campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1968

Working guard duty at Fort Dix in 1968, 22-year-old government issue Ray Lesniak counted himself a fortunate one because he didn't get shipped off to Vietnam.

"Even though I ain't no senator's son," said the senator, 40 years later now, quoting the Creedence Clearwater Revivial song lyrics from the older era.

He was into politics even then, and he liked Sen. Robert Kennedy for president.

"I was a huge supporter," he said.

For insiders like Lesniak who have been immersed in Democratic Party stand-offs for decades, the primary rumble between senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama bears traces of that 1968 match-up between establishment warhorse Hubert Humphrey and tousle-headed rock star Kennedy.

Freshman Assemblyman Ruben Ramos today walked in Gov. Jon Corzine's entourage with fellow freshman Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande.Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts today called on his fellow lawmakers to be bold and to focus on the big issues: ethics, affordable housing, healthcare and property tax reform.

"Our obligation is not to be a rubber stamp," Roberts told a group of legislators that included 25 new assembly people, or the largest number of freshmen since the Florio tax backlash of 1992. 

Speaking in the War Memorial shortly after helping to swear-in the other 79 assembly people and then being sworn into office himself, 20-year veteran Roberts urged the Assembly to work hard and bring honor to the State of New Jersey.

Although he and Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce complimented each other and committed themselves to bipartisanship, the latter didn’t clap when Roberts boasted about providing the largest property relief tax package in state history in 2007.

When people talk about who New Jersey’s first Lieutenant Governor will be, one name that frequently pops up is Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman.

The diminutive African-American woman is the second highest ranking member of the Assembly, and could bring the oft-lauded diversity to the gubernatorial ticket. But although there’s buzz about the possibility, Coleman said that whether she seeks the position depends on a higher power.

“I haven’t really thought about it,” said Coleman just before being sworn in for her sixth term in the legislature. “I’ve been asked about it. But I love what I’ve been doing in the Assembly and hope to continue to work with Joe Roberts in the Assembly. And whatever God has for me in the future he’ll show to me.”

Obama Campaign State Director Mark Alexander

On the day of the Iowa caucuses, the New Jersey state director of Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential campaign has one immediate strategy, win or lose: on the next morning he’s going to stand up volunteers at different locales: the George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee, Newark Penn Station, Jersey City. They will be out there waving "Obama" signs, staying visible, shouting, working.

"We were always the candidate talking about change, that message hasn’t changed," says Mark Alexander, 41, seated in his West Orange office on Thursday, composed given the stakes. Obama’s wife said if they didn’t win Iowa, the campaign would be finished.

"Fundamentally," says Alexander, "we are content that we are offering something the American people really want."

Roselle Park felt a little bit like Des Moines last night, when about 200 Democrats gathered at an Italian restaurant for the New Jersey Democratic Caucus, where the results didn’t mean much but Democratic passion was on full display.

But if the results actually held water, then the world of New Jersey politics is topsy-turvy, because Hillary Clinton – who continues to lead state polls by 30% margins -- was eliminated in the first round of caucusing, coming in short of the 15% threshold with 27 members – 6 less than Dennis Kucinich’s 33.

And ultimately John Edwards, who barely makes a dent in New Jersey polls, prevailed with 76 supporters to Barack Obama’s 68 and Kucinich’s 34.

The event was conceived and organized by Jeff Gardner, co-chair of New Jersey for Democracy, and John Bartlett, Chairman of the Executive Committee of New Jersey’s Democratic Future.  Gardner had seen the Iowa caucuses four years ago, and thought it would be fun to imitate.  The two organizers invited every candidate – except one.