ROB ANDREWS

The peril of mortality has sparked a debate among Democrats over the political future of 85-year-old Frank Lautenberg.  Some Democrats think he should retire from the United States Senate before Republican Christopher Christie is sworn in as governor in January.  That would give Gov. Jon Corzine the ability to appoint a Democrat to replace him, and have ten months of incumbency before a November 2010 special election to fill the remaining four years of Lautenberg's term.  But realistically, Lautenberg isn't going anywhere, at least not voluntarily.  He tried retirement once before and did not especially enjoy it.  The chances of Democrats, in Washington or in New Jersey, convincing him to walk away from his Senate seat early is slim to none.

Democrats have a short window before Christie takes office to pass a new law that would change the way U.S. Senate vacancies are filled.  If Lautenberg's service in the Senate were to end over the next four years, Christie could appoint a Republican to fill his seat.  There could be a special election in November 2010 - the mid-term election year of a Democratic president - or in November 2011, when it might be tougher to turn out voters. 

There are two ways Democrats could go: the power of filling U.S. Senate seats could be taken away from the governor, with the seat remaining vacant until a special election could be held perhaps sixty days later; or forcing the governor to appoint someone from a list of names supplied to them by the political party that held the seat - a move that would trigger a vote of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee with the top three candidates being presented to Christie.

After losing two Democratic statewide primaries, U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D-Haddon Heights) seems to have settled into a career path as a congressional insider. He has forged a close political alliance with the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, and has emerged as a key congressional insider.  Andrews was designated by the Democratic leadership as a point man on the health care bill that passed Saturday night; he got national television exposure, and a front page New York Times photo. 

Frank Pallone (D-Long Branch) has the biggest campaign war chest in New Jersey's thirteen member congressional delegation, with more than twice as much money in the bank as Steve Rothman (D-Fair Lawn).  Pallone has $4,012,918, while Rothman has $1,759,842.  Pallone raised $355,661 during the last quarter, while Rothman brought in just $25,212 - less than any other New Jersey Congressman from either party.

Christopher Smith (R-Hamilton) has the lowest cash on hand - just $120,480.  He is expected to face a Republican primary challenge, possibly from former Holmdel Deputy Mayor Alan Bateman.  Rob Andrews (D-Haddon Heights) has $195,210 in the bank, and still carries a debt from his challenge to Frank Lautenberg (D-Cliffside Park) in the 2008 Democratic U.S. Senate primary.

Freshman John Adler (D-Cherry Hill), who won a House seat last year with 52% in a district the Republicans had not lost since 1886, has $1,193,060 cash on hand.  He raised $404,405 during the last quarter - the  best in the New Jersey delegation.  Another freshman, Leonard Lance (R-Clinton), has $314,755.

PAULSBORO - When President Barack Obama this summer shifted in his New Jersey speech from Gov. Jon Corzine to the issue of national healthcare reform, some Corzine allies privately fretted over the President's abrupt transition from the task of building up a beleaguered New Jersey incumbent with personal-touch anecdotes, to delivering policy bullet points that might have just as well been projected from a podium anywhere. 

But U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D-Haddon Heights) chairman of the House Health Subcommittee and a defender of the public option, sees the confluence of Corzine's reelection bid and the national fight for healthcare reform.

"Of course, we won't get the bill done by Election Day," Andrews told PolitickerNJ.com at a groundbreaking ceremony for a new marine terminal here, which Corzine attended. "But I think the fight for healthcare reform has energized the base. Back in June and July, the the other side was organized, but through August the Democrats organized in response and that's what we have heading into this election."

Paulsboro Mayor/Assemblyman John Burzichelli

PAULSBORO - Mantua Creek hugs the northern border of this blue collar river town where in years past, the locals say, you either worked for Essex Chemical, DuPont, Mobile or BP, companies that once had a toehold on this 190-acre sandy stretch - vacant now on the Delaware side with the dockworks rusting as the tankers drift by with the seagulls, and the Mantua empties.

"I worked here as an electrician," said Donald Norcross, gazing at the dunes as top-to-bottom dignitaries, labor leaders, workers, and politicians tottered down steps, disgorged mini buses and crowded the area around a makeshift stage where shovels stood at attention in a packed mound of sand with the river and the distant outline of Philadelphia in the background.

Tired of watching the tankers pass on their way to Philly, South Jersey wants to bring this place back as a working port, which will economically impact this area long-term - a projected 2,500 jobs onsite, 20,000 jobs in the region; and short-term, gin up 3rd District votes - 46,845 Democrats against 27,372 Republicans with 59,000 undeclareds, for a polls-harried Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine, who's losing a dogfight with Republican challenger Chris Christie, according to the latest numbers from Quinnipiac University.

New Jersey's congressional delegation voted 8-5 along party lines in support of a House resolution voicing disapproval of U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), who shouted "You lie!" during President Barack Obama's address to a joint session of Congress last week.  Democrats John Adler, Rob Andrews, Rush Holt, Frank Pallone, Bill Pascrell, Donald Payne, Steven Rothman, and Albio Sires voted yes.  Republicans Rodney Frelinghuysen, Scott Garrett, Leonard Lance, Frank LoBiondo and Christopher Smith voted no.  The resolution passed 240-17.  Seven Republicans voted yes and twelve Democrats voted no.

As Gov. Jon Corzine prepares to for the gubernatorial debates, he has asked Senate Majority Leader Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford)  to play his Republican opponent, former U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie.  That may cause some buzz among Democrats who have noticed that Corzine did not ask Senate President Richard Codey (D-Roseland), who was New Jersey's Governor from 2004 to 2006.  Sweeney is expected to challenge Codey in a leadership fight set for after the general election. 

Christie has picked State Sen. Bill Baroni (R-Hamilton) to play Corzine.  Baroni has played Corzine in Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bob Franks' 2000 debate preparations, and played U.S. Senator Robert Menendez when Republican Tom Kean was preparing for his 2006 debate.

Members of the South Jersey Democratic Organization this afternoon officially closed ranks around Donald Norcross as their candidate to fill the 5th District Assembly seat being vacated by Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden).

An assistant business manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 351 and president of the Southern New Jersey AFL-CIO Central Labor Council, which represents an estimated 85,000 workers, Norcross is the younger brother of South Jersey Democratic Party leader George Norcross III and a resident of Camden.

“I have known and worked with Donald Norcross for many years, and I can’t imagine a more capable, caring and determined person to represent the hard-working people in this district,” said Roberts. “I am gratified to know that with Donald’s election in November, our citizens will have a voice in Trenton with sound judgment, a solid record of achievement and a bold vision for the future.”

U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D-Haddon Heights) says that he is proud of what Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden) has accomplished during a political career that began as a school board member and borough councilman in the 1970's.

"Joe Roberts has been an outstanding speaker and public servant for New Jersey. As his constituent and colleague in government, I am sorry that he has decided not to continue in the Speakership," Andrews said.  "As his friend, I am glad that he will be able to move on to the next phase of his career and life, which I am sure will be successful. Joe has taught many of us how to be a true public servant and I am proud of his achievements."

Andrews and Roberts served together on the Camden County Board of Freeholders in 1987.  Andrews had won his first term in 1986 and Roberts left in 1987 after winning a special election to replace the late Francis Gorman in the State Assembly.

The debate over debates is great political theater, even to political insiders, even though real voters are hardly ever influenced by these kinds of process stories.  Rob Andrews and Dick Zimmer, in the Democratic primary and general election, respectively, tried to make a huge deal about the reluctance of U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg to debate in 2008.  Lautenberg eventually debated, both times during the final week of the campaign, and his voters didn't hold his initial hesitation against him.

The move by New Jersey Network to move the gubernatorial debate from October 1 to October 22 was seen an beneficial to Gov. Jon Corzine, who is not required to participate in the two official debates sanctioned by the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission because he is not accepting public financing.  Corzine preferred late debates, but now says he'll be part of the debate whenever it is held.  Republican Christopher Christie and independent Christopher Daggett, both the recipients of matching funds, strongly opposed NJN's petition to change the date of the debate as a carrot toward Corzine's participation. 

Representing NJN, anchorman Jim Hooker confirmed that the request to move the debates was done without consulting the other two sponsors, Gannett New Jersey and the Philadelphia Inquirer.  At some point, expect ELEC to change their sponsorship application process to ensure that all sponsors are on the same page. 

The four ELEC commissioners rarely vote along party lines, but they did that on Monday in a 2-2 vote on a motion to change the debate schedule.  Democrats Jerry Fitzgerald English and Albert Burstein, both former legislators, voted to move the debate to October 22, while the normally less partisan Republicans, Peter Tober and Amos Saunders, voted against any changes.  Saunders, a retired Superior Court Judge who hasn't been involved in partisan politics for decades, was especially strong in his opposition to any adjustments to the calendar.