JON CORZINE

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The Star-Ledger is reporting that Gov. Jon Corzine cut short his trip to Chicago where he had been scheduled to confer with other Democratic Party governors and presumptive presidential nominee Barack Obama.

Corzine wants to be in Trenton for the budget process, which remains stalled in specially scheduled committees today in both the Assembly and Senate.

Tom Shea served as Chief of Staff to the Governor from 2006 to 2007: Getty Images PhotoFormer Corzine Chief of Staff Tom Shea told PolitickerNJ.com today that he would never return to Trenton.

Pressed with rumors that he might retrieve his job as chief of staff, Shea was firm.

"Never," he repeated. "Once is enough."

Some Democrats close to Governor Jon Corzine say that Bradley Abelow will be replaced as Chief of Staff by his predecessor, Tom Shea.  Shea left the administration in August 2007, but has remained Corzine’s top political advisor.  Sources say Corzine would like Shea, who ran Corzine’s U.S. Senate campaign in 2000 and spent five years as his Chief of Staff in Washington, to return through the 2009 election.

There’s some buzz from the front office that Lisa Jackson, the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, could wind up as Governor Jon Corzine’s new Chief of Staff.    Bradley Abelow is expected to leave after the budget is passed, and sources say that Michellene Davis, Corzine’s Appointments Counsel, is also a possible candidate for the top staff post.

PRINCETON - Gov. Jon Corzine's Tuesday night shout-out to 4thJosh Zeitz Congressional District candidate Josh Zetiz was the governor's second public hurrah in as many weeks for the underdog Democrat challenging U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-4). 

Corzine spearheaded a Zeitz fund-raising event at a Trenton restaurant last week, and plugged the professor's candidacy at his governor's gala for the State Democratic Committee last night.

Zeitz's allies in Mercer County took notice.

Assemblywoman Alison McHose and Assemblyman David Rible today in Trenton. 

TRENTON - A day after Gov. Jon Corzine and the Democrats launched what had the vibe of a pre "overwhelming victory" party, Republicans attempted a low-key, state-level counter-offensive here this afternoon at the height of the budget season.

While Democrats may be in the throes of Obama fever, "Jon Corzine is not terribly popular now," said Assembly Whip Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield), referring to the governor’s 38% job approval rating, according to Quinnipiac University.

Battling for some GOP respect, Bramnick announced the formation of the New Republican Policy Committee, which he hopes will be one of the features of a new-face Republican party. The move comes in an atmosphere in which the departing Republican president’s job approval rating is 22% and Obama leads presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain by six points.

Gary Rose, a top aide to Gov. Jon Corzine, is expected to leave his state government post by the end of the month
Gary Rose, one of Governor Jon Corzine’s top advisors and the Chief of the state Office of Economic Growth, will be leaving by the end of the month, according to administration sources. With the state budget process nearing completion, Rose, who was a partner with Corzine at Goldman Sachs, is reportedly headed to a private sector position.

If Michellene Davis becomes Governor Jon Corzine's next Chief of Staff, it won't bode well for Edward McBride, who has served as Corzine's Chief Counsel since Ken Zimmerman left earlier this year.  A Davis appointment would mean that Corzine effectively passed over McBride for a promotion and picked someone who is several runs below the Counsel on the organization chart.  Other Chief Counsels, like Stuart Rabner, Mike Torpey, Cary Edwards and Edward McGlynn, have been promoted up.