Is Corzine bungling his Senate replacement? Will we lose that seat?

NYT: Political Memo
Corzine's Struggle to Fill His Own Senate Shoes
By DAVID W. CHEN
Published: November 30, 2005

....Ideally, Mr. Corzine would pick someone who will not only do a good job filling in, but also win a full term next November against the expected Republican candidate, State Senator Thomas H. Kean Jr., the son of a popular former governor.

But by taking what seems like a political eternity to make up his mind, Mr. Corzine also runs the risk of fanning tensions among those who desperately want the job.

Is he going to pick Representative Robert Menendez of Hudson County, who has long been considered the frontrunner and has attracted the support of national Hispanic groups? Or is Mr. Corzine unsure about Mr. Menendez's reputation as a tough political operator? Will there be an unconventional choice, such as State Senator Nia H. Gill or Cory Booker, a former Newark city councilman, or a total surprise altogether?...

***

All of this second-guessing and fretting among Democrats might have disappeared had Mr. Corzine chosen the man favored overwhelmingly by voters in recent polls: Acting Gov. Richard J. Codey.

But last Wednesday, Mr. Codey took himself out of the running. While he cited family reasons, some Democrats have speculated that Mr. Corzine did not woo Mr. Codey sufficiently enough, or even at all....

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/30/nyregion/metrocampaigns/30senate.html

The story arises from the county bosses trying to play Corzine, trying to stampede him into choosing "their" person for the job.

I say let him choose whom he wants, when he wants. On his timetable. In that way, he will let Norcross, Lynch and the others know just who the boss dog is in the NJ tanyard. That's something sorely needed.

the local party bosses and appoint only the most qualified candidate to fill his seat.

I still stand by my prediction.

Appoint any of the following and lose the seat:

Menendez
Pallone
Gill

Appoint any of the following the seat is a tossup/slight-lean dem:

Holt
Andrews (IMO, the best candidate. The corruption charge wont stick. Will run very strong in Southern NJ.)

Appoint the following and the seat is SAFE DEM:

Codey


The wildcard here is Bradley. Has he shown any interest in returning to the senate?

are the best candidates. I don't think Bradley would be interested. Remember, whoever we appoint will get two years to build up their name id and war chest as an incumbent Senator.

the election is in '06. The replacement will have all of about 6 months untill the primary. Assuming there is a primary, which I believe there will be. Menendez and Andrews have already said they are running. After that he/she will be forced to jump into a race vs a moderate to liberal Republican with an extremely popular last name.

but NJ is a Dem state. The George Bush's choice will work on Kean as well.

So many good options.

But Menendez has a 5.5 to 1 cash-on-hand advantage to Kean. In a Dem state like NJ it would be very difficult for Kean to overcome that.

...and let the primary sort out the next runner.

It would piss off Saxby Chambliss no end!

http://www.pnionline.com/dnblog/attytood/archives/002473.html

Bad blood between Chambliss and the boss?

proclamation, because he was pissed at Lautenberg for calling him a chickenhawk.

The juicy details are HERE: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5474371

Doh! I should've read all the posts.. :crazy:

I'd love to see the reaction by NJ residents.. Hell, by the entire nation if Bruce Springsteen accepted the seat!!!!

Talk about consuming the airwaves for weeks on end.. the media would go crazy!

That race is not on my top tier of worries, simply based on the recent statewide voting tendencies. I'll worry more if Menendez is the choice. People I respect think he would either lose to Kean or be life and death to win.

I prefer Russ Holt. He defeated an incumbent in the 12th district before it was redistricted to become much more favorable. So that indicates to me he would probably have pull statewide, plus we would be able to retain his House seat. I've been very impressed with Holt the few times I've watched him on the House floor. He might even be able to use that old Jeopardy dominance in effective commercials if his campaign has a sense of humor.

Senator Corzine( Govenor elect) would have the next day with all the media attention he was given came out and said who his replacement would be. Start off with the folks of New jersey and even folks around the country that a Dem seems to have his chit together.....But nooooooooooo, he is doing it backasswards as some of you have suggested. His replacement needs to be the one that can win the 06 election as well....

So would Codey.

The Asbury Park Press is a RW rag!

He's my congressman and I've been extremely happy with him but more importantly than pleasing an old liberal like myself, he has considerable crossover appeal.

People see him as a scientist first and a politician second. In New Jersey where alot of the economy is based on pharmaceutical and tech industries that is not a small thing.

Besides--wouldn't it be fun to see people driving down the Turnpike with "My Senator IS a Rocket Scientist" bumper stickers.