Zenon Christodoulou

Somerset County Democratic Chair Peg Schaffer, local races

MARTINSVILLE – It looks like a joke at first or at least an appropriate back burner relegation for the Somerset County Democratic Party, which sits under a pizza parlor facing away from the road.

They don’t dominate here, haven’t for years, and that’s an understatement, but the little storefront plastered over with Democratic Party campaign signs belies the internal workings of what new party chair Peg Schaffer sees as a movement.

“I forgot how to practice law,” says Schaffer, sporting a “McBush” button and gulping coffee as she surveys headquarters where two dozen campaign workers stay on the phones.

Illinois State Treasurer Alexi GiannouliasDemocratic Party operative Zenon Christodoulou on Sunday welcomed Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias to Edison to campaign for presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama (D-Il.).

Statewide director of Greeks for Obama, Christodoulou described the 32-year old Giannoulias as a personal friend and protegee of Obama's, and a rising star on the national political scene who spoke at the Democratic National Convention. 

U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-Long Branch) joined Giannoulias at Pine’s Manor to talk to 100 prominent members of New Jersey’s Greek community, which numbers between 80,000 and 120,000, Christodoulou said.

DENVER - As the New Jersey delegation burst through the double doors into the parking of the Pepsi Center, looking over the shoulders and around the bulky accouterments of any number of security personnel for a clear path to a party at Invesco Field, a small group of those formerly known as the "The Group" huddled on the pavement.

Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) had just spoken and so the emotion was still palpable, and Caren Turner, who has flirted with the idea of backing Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) rather than support the Democratic Primary conqueror of her candidate, remained unconvinced that she should back Barack.

"I’ve got to think about it," said Turner. "I’d like to see what his platform is going to be to get more women into positions of government."

With Turner stood Zenon Christodoulou, vice chair of the Somerset County Democratic Party and another Group member.

The Rev. Reginald Jackson of Orange was one of six Group fundraisers who went to Chicago on Monday.: Politicker file photo 

Six members of the New Jersey fundraising outfit formerly known as "the Group" toured the Obama mothership in Chicago on Monday and interfaced with some of the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee’s top staffers.

Zenon Christodoulou, Al DeCotiis, Hugh DeFazio, John Graham, Bill Harla, and the Rev. Reginald Jackson spent three hours in Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-Il.) main campaign headquarters, which houses the political activity of some 450 people, according to DeCotiis.

"We told them we’re going to work with our existing operations and that we intend to bring in all of the Clinton finance supporters for full impact," said DeCotiis.

The big money Democratic Party fundraisers who backed Hillary Clinton in the primary but have now committed to supporting Barack Obama, accepted an invitation to fly out to Chicago Monday to sit down with Obama’s campaign manager.

There’s a Jersey connection there, as David Plouffe managed Bob Torricelli’s successful U.S. senate campaign in 1996.

Those members of the "Group" who plan to head to Obama’s Midwest base of operations for a three-hour confab include Zenon Christodoulou, Al DeCotiis, John Graham and William Harla.

"We were asked to come out by the campaign so that they could introduce us to all of the main people they want us to get to know in the head office," said Christodoulou.

BRANCHBURG- Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-6) helped the Somerset County Democratic Party raise about $50,000 at a private fundraiser here on Saturday.

"Bob Menendez came up from Washington because he believes in the potential to turn this county blue," said Zenon Christodoulou, vice chair of the party.

Christodoulou and his fellow Democrats are fighting a long tradition of Republican rule in Somerset.