Corzine could be auditioning L.G. candidates
By Wally EdgeIs Jon Corzine following the Barack Obama model and auditioning candidates for Lieutenant Governor by taking a road trip? The Governor, who says he’ll seek re-election next year, is leaving today for Fort Bliss in Texas, where he’ll lead a bi-partisan delegation to visit with New Jersey National Guard troops. Four of the five Democrats joining him have been mentioned as possible candidates for Lt. Governor: Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney, Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman, and State Sen. Teresa Ruiz.
There’s even a Chuck Hagel-type on the trip: former Republican Congressman Bob Franks, who nearly beat Corzine in the 2000 U.S. Senate race but has now become a close friend and sometime policy advisor.
Also on the trip: Assembly Veteran and Military Affairs Committee Chairman Jack Conners, and three Republicans – Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean, Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce, and State Sen. Bill Baroni, the Chairman of John McCain’s New Jersey presidential campaign.
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Syndicate
Baroni would make a good match
After all, he's ideologically totally in sync with Corzine, or maybe a little more to the left.
Doug Palmer or Bonnie Watson Coleman are the best bet
Steve Sweeney buys him nothing but grief and South Jersey angst, Cory doesn't want it-Franks would actually be an interesting choice but he doesn't have a base of support anymore plus the pharms are seen as anti-consumer in a bad economy, keeping your enemy's close would be the only reason to do a Baroni. Ruiz is too too too green and too closely aligned with that aging lothario who is thisclose to scandal at the north ward center in Newark.
Very educational.
Good job Wally.
New Faces
Logan Township Mayor Frank Minor would be an excellent choice for LG.Done some great things with economic development and taxes just what new jersey needs.
Corzine's folly
One would think that being qualified to be the governor would actually have something to do with becoming a credible choice for LG.
Bonnie Watson Coleman and Mayor Palmer are hardly qualified to be the state's governor.
Neither one of them have a chance to become governor unless they were thrusted onto the ticket.
Neither one of them have accomplished anything worthy of that kind of elevation or consideration. The mention of Ruiz as LG is almost as laughable.
There are those who believe race and gender are the qualifications for LG. Not record or competence.
This is why I opposed the creation of this position to watch these senseless PC debates on why this position must go to an African-American or a woman.
Mayor Booker is a serious candidate with the qualifications and record to serve as governor. The other names are just below any reasonable standard of qualification.
Vote Column - All the way!
Palmer can't run Trenton and Bonnie can't run her house!
It is absolutely laughable that Doug Palmer or Bonnie Coleman would be considered as legitimate contenders for LG. The fact that they are even considered speaks volumes about the state of politics in New Jersey. Have you been to Trenton lately? Doug doesn't have any support in Trenton. He barely avoided a runoff in his latest election. Bonnie couldn't keep her kids out of the street and hasn't had a real job in years. She has worked for the State of NJ her entire life and she got there bc of who her father was. If Corzine wants a minority, fine. But Palmer and Bonnie aren't even the best qualified minorities!
Demsanddonts
You couldn't have said it any better! The number one qualification should be "are they capable to be governor." I too opposed the position, a waste of taxpayer dollars. The wording of the law makes the position so ambiguous that the person may not even have to be the head of a department i.e. state or agriculture. Ugh!
PULEASE
What has Mayor Booker done constructively during his brief tenure to deserve these endless accolades? He'll be the first to say, very little. Crime is down but its down in every post rust belt city. There's been no building boom, the Prudential Center was started in Sharpe's era. He went to a couple good schools, but seriously these days who hasn't or had the chance to -white-black or whatever-under the age of 40? He has no monopoly there. WHY is he such the fair haired child? Because he turns a good phrase? So do a lot of con men and women... Give it Bonnie Coleman, she's has a track record for the DEMS, is a good soldier and if we are vying for qualifications, then frankly, most of the legisltive roster of applicants wouldn't survive the first round of interviews so you might as well award it on the basis of loyalty.
Palmer
I think Doug Palmer has been auditioning the hardest for this job for several years now.
Bob Franks would be an interesting pick. But would he run for Gov in '13 as a D or an R?
What if scenario...
What is Corzine takes up Lautenberg as his Lt. Gov? This will allow Lautenberg to leave his US Senate position to Pallone or Rothman as planned. We all knew he was a place holder, this could be the opportunity to get him out of that seat.
Bonnie Watson Coleman
Assemblywoman Coleman is one of the smartest and most effective legislators in Trenton. A committed progressive, regardless of the comments from anonymous naysayers, she will make a fine choice for Lieutenant Governor.