N.H. Biden supporters knew yesterday
By James W. PindellMANCHESTER -- Three prominent New Hampshire supporters of Joe Biden in this year's presidential primary were in on the biggest secret in American politics on Friday.
Biden's state chairman Jim Ryan got word from Delaware via a text message at 6 a.m. nearly a full day before the world knew.
"It was the biggest secret I had in my life," said Ryan, who is also a state representative from Franklin. That said, Ryan did tell a small amount of Biden's New Hampshire staff. He also told his wife and his oldest daughter.
"I told her that maybe she can get excited in the backyard, but she can't go to Hannaford and sing 'I know something you don't know.'"
Biden's deputy state director Heidi Mitchell got the news while working in her office.
"My first reaction was of total excitement, but I knew I couldn't do anything about it," she said.
Evan Carlson, Biden's press secretary, said he was "delighted" to hear the news.
"I'm obviously delighted," Carlson said. "My opinion might I think Obama made a great choice."
Carlson added that he thinks Biden will help attract independent voters to the ticket and unite local Democrats.
"Some of these independent voters who like Joe will look at the pick and say Obama made an interesting choice," he said. "I think it will also help unite the party. I think a lot of Clinton supporters liked Joe and this will help the ticket."
But for Ryan it wasn't hard to keep a secret. What was hard is not jumping for joy.
"More than anything else I was so excited. He is absolutely the right pick," Ryan said.
Contributors
Wally Edge
Matt Reilly, the former deputy chief of the Star-Ledger statehouse bureau, will be the new communications director for the Senate Democrats. An ... >
Bob Torricelli
It's hard to not be concerned these days. We've all witnessed frustration with our institutions before but I never remember anything of this ... >
Michael Patrick Carroll
Instead of borrowing trillions to waste on make-work governmental projects, stimulate the economy with tax cuts. >
Debbie Holtz
Score one for the Governor’s public relations team. For the last few weeks, they have been working overtime to fuel speculation Corzine was being ... >
Dr. Joseph Marbach
I am pleased to report the results from the first national poll conducted by Environmental Studies Program in the College of Arts and Sciences at ... >
Rob Tornoe
Michael P. Riccards
In December 2008, the Holy See released a new document dealing with bioethics called “Dignitas Personae.” This “instruction” from the ... >
Joey Novick
Hard to believe we have arrived at the last year of the first decade of the 21st century. Boy, seems like it was just yesterday that Bush was handed ... >
Juan Melli
It's actually come to this: A panel convened by the legislature of the State of New Jersey has concluded that discrimination is not good. Maybe ... >
Carla Katz
As it tends to, history seems to be repeating itself as 240 laid-off workers at Republic Windows and Doors in Chicago revive a decades old tactic -- ... >
Patricia Quattrocchi
Many columnists write a "year in review" or a "predictions" piece for the New Year, however I decided to refrain from going down ... >
Murray Sabrin
Five Democrat governors including New Jersey’s Jon Corzine and New York’s David Paterson have called upon the incoming Obama administration to ... >
Poll
PolitickerNJ Partners
Hot Topics
| Politicker INTERACTIVE | |
 |
Lawmaker Profile Follow the funding of your representatives |
 |
270 to Win See how Obama got to the magic number |
Most Active Stories
- Healy and Stack and the late Glenn Cunningham
- Lance to resign state senate seat tomorrow, to be sworn in to Congress Tuesday
- In familiar setting, Christie tells Raritan, 'I look forward to working with all of you'
- Karrow wins key Hunterdon organization endorsement
- Kyrillos: 'We need a leader like Chris Christie'
- Bateman stays neutral in Doherty-Karrow 23rd District scrum
- Lonegan camp says they qualify for matching funds
- Merkt fights perceived Christie canonization in Passaic County
- This weekend on TV: Leonard Lance and John Adler
- Holt decides to run for assembly instead of state senate
- Correction: Weiner departure was not his own idea
- Torricelli on COAH
- Two N.J. super delegates go to Obama; Norcross backs Obama; key Clinton supporters endorse Obama
- At energy policy meeting, Rose fights with cabinet and walks away
- Sixteen Democrats are on Norcross' short list for Andrews House seat
- Jackson will be Corzine's new Chief of Staff
- Roughneen in court today on signature challenge
- Obama bundler says he lost $25 billion of N.J. pension funds
- Weinberg loses life savings in Madoff Ponzi scheme
- New Jersey's Most Powerful Law Firms
Quote of the Day
"Everybody is afraid of getting another Joe in there." -- Richard "Buzz" Dressel,a labor leader who is a possible candidate for Bergen County Democratic Chairman if Joe Ferriero resigns or is ousted.
Recent Press Releases
In the News
Read the expanded Wake Up Call, our summary of today’s news media coverage.
Today’s Must Reads:
The City Boss Becomes the Country Boss ― DICK BENFIELD...MUST READ
Ferriero's support a curse for Kasparian? ― CHARLES STILE...MUST READ
Trenton must stop thinking outside box― DOUG FORRESTER
Three's a crowd, but one man isn't a party― ALFRED DOBLIN
Newspaper Shuns Web, and Thrives― DAN JACOBSON
Murder charge for Prisco― ANGELO PRISCO
Healy: Have yourself a merry little Christmas with my CD― JERSEY JOURNAL
Time for BCDO to clean up its act ― CHARLES STILE
Madoff investors will have trouble getting money back― FRANK LAUTENBERG
OBAMA'S ELECTOR ― ELECTORAL COLLEGE
Syndicate
