So have they said who will replace Corzine in the Senate

I think it's between Andrews or Menendez but that senate seat is going to be very competitive next year if Tom Kean Jr. enters the race on the republican side (His dad Tom Kean Sr was a very popular republican governor of NJ back in the 80s).

I'm thinking if Corzine goes with one of the house members to go with Menendez because of his hispanic heritage; however, why not go with the most popular NJ democrat in the state of NJ and appoint acting Governor Richard Codey to his old seat. Codey not only did a great job holding the governor seat after the McGreevey Scandal but is also one of the most popular governors right now in the US.

So, he's out.

The poll also indicated Codey would likely be elected should he seek a full U.S. Senate term in the 2006 election. Codey would defeat Tom Kean Jr., the Republican state senator who has declared his candidacy, 55 percent to 32 percent, according to the poll.

Menendez, along with U.S. Reps. Rob Andrews and Frank Pallone, have all publicly lobbied for the seat. Menendez and Andrews have indicated that they will run in 2006, even if Corzine chooses someone else to fill the remainder of his term.

Of the congressmen who want the seat, Menendez has raised the most money, $4.1 million, versus Pallone's $2 million and Andrews' $2 million.

Corzine has not said publicly when he will announce his selection, or who is on his list of potential choices. Corzine has said he wants someone who can win in 2006.

http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051123/NEWS03/51123010/1006/NEWS01

I'm really proud of how Codey turned that really bad situation around and did as well has did performed. I'm sure the Corzine folks were hoping he wouldn't run (maybe hoping a little too much) for Governor.

They need to do some serious polling with Menendez, Andrews and Pallone and see if they can be competitive against Kean. If they aren't as strong as Codey then the democratic party really needs to convince Codey he is the best man for the Senate seat.

I've noticed that Lautenberg has always polled at the bottom of the the senator approval list and I'm wondering if that is leftover from the last minute switch to put him in as a replacement for Torricelli? (personally I adore Frank!).

I read one article where Menendez and Andrews would divide the state - (ie North NJ wouldn't support a South NJ candidate and vice versa). I wonder if there is any merit to that.

And with the overwhelmingly lack of minorities in Senate (you have 4 - Salazar who is hispanic, the two from Hawaii who are of Asian decent and Obama) you'd think there would be a push for Menendez, who is of Hispanic heritage. I hate pandering like that but it horrible how little representation there is in the senate.

I don't know, personally our state has the problem solved because Joe Biden has plenty of offspring being groomed to replace any seat that might open in Delaware (not kidding - one is running for AG in 2006)

he's done nothing but make us proud since he came back to the Senate.

As to the North/South division, I didn't grow up in this state, but I became aware pretty quickly that there are really Two New Jerseys...Starting to be three, I think, with the growth of Central NJ coming mostly from NYC folks and immigrants, it's a really different part of NJ. It's highly likely that there'd be a lot of infighting over a Menendez/Andrews matchup for the nod, but in the end, if one of them gets the nod, the party HAS TO keep the other from challenging, or we'd wind up with a Republican Governor! NJ just isn't THAT solidly blue.

I'm glad they were able to replace Torricelli with Lautenberg but it was borderline sneaky what the democrats did. I think some folks still hold him accountable for what happened (although hell he was a better choice than Forrestor). I'm thinking by the time 2010 rolls back around Lautenberg's approval ratings will be much higher. He's a great senator and your state should be lucky to have him as one!

New Jersey Monthly last year, the North/South debate issue? If you really look at the statistics, the majority of Rethugs are in Central NJ, not North or South. South Jersey has some pretty solid Blue Counties (such as Camden) and North Jersey has some as well (Essex, for one). Central has some pretty red ones, e.g., the Monmouth/Ocean problem, plus Somerset and Hunterdon. You have Middlesex, but it depends on where you live in the county to see how blue you are (I pity the person who lives next to Lisa Beamer). If you compare which counties voted for dubya and which ones voted for the multiple-time loser, every one of those counties who voted for dubya voted for the loser EXCEPT for Salem (they voted for Corzine but also for dubya, they realized they made a big mistake on the dubya obviously but none of the other counties did). I just think the answer to all of this (my wild idea here)is to get all of these assholes to move to Ohio (sorry, but better them than us). Most of the freeper people that I have encountered in NJ seem to really like it there anyway. Oh, and they love country music too. I can tell you two of them (and their families) in Middlesex County right off of the top of my head that think this way. And the sad part? One of them is only 17 (parents are religious Nascar-loving right wing nut jobs, what do you expect).

I disagree with your assumption that the majority of the states rethugs are in central new jersey. First off I remind you that Democrats have complete control of Mercer and Middlesex counties. As some one who has campaigned heavily in North Jersey I have witnessed the rethugs last stand. Here they have complete control of Sussex, Warren, Morris and Hunterdon Counties and in the upper portions of Democratic Bergen and Passaic Counties they outnumber Dems by 3 to 2. A Democrat is lucky to break 40 percent in these areas.

has :loveya: Russ Holt :patriot: (HR550 and many other important efforts), at the top, and Frank Pallone would be great from a progressive perspective.

That should be the first qualification.

of NJ's Dem congressmen Menendez, Holt, Payne, and Pallone voted against the war while Andrews,Pascrell, and Rothman voted for it.

Murtha was one of the biggest supporters of the war resolutions back in 2002 and now he's one of the biggest advocates for pulling out. Even warhawks like Clinton & Biden are demanding a timeline for pulling our troops out of Iraq. So I guess what I'm hoping for is anything but another Lieberman. If Andrews, Pascrell or Rothman voted for the war but are big enough to recognize that maybe they made a mistake then they should be ok.

I just don't know what there statements on an Iraqi pull out are.

Pallones voting record may be closer to Corzine-- Nia GIll might be in the running. Those are my 2 favs.