February 7, 2007 - 3:34pm
Under Corzine, freedom will ring for Dems in '08
By Wally EdgeFor now, Governor Jon Corzine has quietly asked Democratic party leaders to refrain from public endorsements in the race for the 2008 presidential nomination. But Corzine, unlike predecessors James E. McGreevey in 2004 (Howard Dean) and Christine Todd Whitman in 1996 (Bob Dole) and 2000 (George W. Bush), is unlikely to pressure County Chairmen and legislators to follow his own choice -- if he makes one at all. New Jersey Democrats, according to sources close to Corzine, will be free to pick their own candidate.
New Jersey appears to be set for a February 5, 2008 primary. The Senate has already passed a bill moving the date up from February 26, and Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts has said he will post the bill in the lower house sometime soon. Corzine has pledged to sign the bill.
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Wally Edge
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It bodes well for both parties to have the presidential primary
It bodes well for both parties to have the presidential primary moved up to 5 February, though the cynic in me wonders whether the national parties might still bypass Dem-safe New Jersey.
Corzine doesn't seem to be confident of Clinton's victory in a general election, judging from some comments he made about her having to do much work for the election. I think it better for the democratic process (little "d") that Corzine is thinking of not endorsing anyone rather than advocating a candidate from the top down.
On the Dem side, Clinton seems to have a strong organizational apparatus in the state, though Edwards, then Obama, seem to be the choices of the state progressive community.
MartinOne -- in the primaries the relative strength of each stat
MartinOne -- in the primaries the relative strength of each state party doesn't matter. The primary is a partisan election, and the same number of delegates that go to the national party convention from NJ would be the same even if no Republican were elected from a fire district to the US Senate.
*** Watch out for Obama...in the NJ Dem primary, urban politics
***
Watch out for Obama...in the NJ Dem primary, urban politics rule the state.
If Obama can get Healy and Booker behind him early, he could steamroll Edwards, though Clinton will still be tough to beat.
Corzine served amicably with Clinton, but he helped recruit Obama as DSCC chair.
***
Mr. Dem: Our respective faves (Obama for you, Edwards for me) ar
Mr. Dem: Our respective faves (Obama for you, Edwards for me) are coming from the same liberal constituency. I can't help but wonder if we aren't cancelling each other out and giving the nomination to Hillary or, at the very least, the Democratic Vote.
Watcher: Thanks for the clarification about the delegates. What I was referring to was the symbolic and actual power that N.J. would have in the nominating process if this primary moves up. Candidates would actually be courting voters in the state, and local issues in N.J. might have a little bit of national prominence.
anyone notice that the dems in New Jersey haven't exactly been w
anyone notice that the dems in New Jersey haven't exactly been waiting for the blessing from Trenton before taking sides?
*** MartinOne-- Obama isn't my fave (I really don't have one yet
***
MartinOne-- Obama isn't my fave (I really don't have one yet), I'm just pointing out that if he can lock up some of the urban vote early on, he can really overcome many of Hill's advantages.
***
Let's all remember that no one is allowed to criticize Barack Ob
Let's all remember that no one is allowed to criticize Barack Obama, for any reason. He is a saint. He is perfect. You there, in Parsippany, stop thinking that negative thought about Obama, you racist pig!
Edwards seems to have shot himself in the foot by hiring the ant
Edwards seems to have shot himself in the foot by hiring the anti-Catholic bloggers to work alongside of Teresa Wells.
Huge mistake on Edwards part in NJ where the Catholic vote is critical to a victory in the Democratic primary.
The Edwards blog folly is much ado about nothing; the bloggers w
The Edwards blog folly is much ado about nothing; the bloggers were out of line in previous posts, but so were several of McCain's hirings previous comments, including the swift boat folks.
In the general election, I hope we see Edwards at the top of the ticket. N.J. seems to be Hillary-land, though. On the Republican side, Giuliani seems to have this state in his pocket.
MartinOne - don't poo-poo the Edwards bloggers situation you pho
MartinOne - don't poo-poo the Edwards bloggers situation you phoney. If bloggers had attacked a minority group in such vicious terms you'd have your panties all in a bunch. The candidate Edwards refuses to fire these anti-Catholic hateful bigots - any practicing Catholic who votes for Edwards betrays his or her religion - period. The hypocrisy of phony apologists like you makes me sick.
Stating, Your posturing and incredulity smack of hypocrisy. You
Stating, Your posturing and incredulity smack of hypocrisy. You neglect to mention that these remarks were made before Edwards hired them, the bloggers have apologized, and those who criticize Edwards, including Bill Donohue, have made possibly anti-semitic, homophobic, and anti-Muslim remarks of their own.
http://mediamatters.org/items/200702080003
The campaign is moving on and focusing on real issues, not these swift boat attempts. Less than two years from now, we can begin to correct the failures of the Bush administration by inaugurating a Democratic president.
MartinOne - You see, a phoney is easy to spot - because his/h
MartinOne -
You see, a phoney is easy to spot - because his/her logic is so corrupt. These bloggers made their comments before Edwards hired them - yes, and...so what? If they made anti-semitic or racist remarks - as long as they were made before being hired, that's ok? Your argument is just a laughable regurgitation of their apologists. Also, Edwards became aware of it - but refused to let them go. So, in essence he embraced them - and their hatred. And please don't compare Donohue to these twerps - although you threw every far left "anti - ___ " buzzword into your categories, Donohue isn't the issue here and isn't a hate monger - unlike the Catholic hating bloggers you so forcefully endorse and defend.