Codey to endorse Obama
By Max Pizarro, PolitickerNJ.com ReporterSenate President Richard Codey is expected to endorse Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination, according to sources close to Codey, who had served as New Jersey Chairman of John Edwards’ campaign.
Edwards announced today that he would be abandoning his run for the presidency.
Mark Alexander, state director of the Obama Campaign, said he did not know about any decision by Codey to back Obama.
"Of course, we would be very happy to have him," said Alexander.
Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy, co-chair of the Obama Campaign, said he had not heard directly from Codey that the Senate President intends to endorse Obama, but said he believes what he's hearing from other sources about an official announcement on Thursday.
"I'm hearing the same things you're hearing," said Healy. "It's a terrific endorsement, and it's very important."
The Obama people have been working hard for Codey's endorsement ever since Edwards placed a distant second behind Obama in Iowa. Their state campaign office is in Codey's home town of West Orange and one of their key endorsers, former Sen. Bill Bradley, was Codey's pick for president in 2000.
Codey is also close with Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Obama's other co-chair in New Jersey. A portion of Codey's senate district falls within Newark, where yesterday the Obama campaign opened a headquarters for the final week leading up to the Feb. 5 primary.
Senate colleagues were also lobbying Codey this week. On Monday, the same day that U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy endorsed Obama, senators Shirley Turner and Loretta Weinberg told the press they would continue to try to convince Codey he should support their presidential candidate.
"Senate President Codey is an enormously popular leader in New Jersey, and he deserves credit for sticking by his candidate (Edwards) until his candidate dropped out of the race," said Weinberg.
"He's New Jersey's version of Teddy Kennedy," added Weinberg, and she wasn't the only one who made that connection.
"What Dick Codey brings to this campaign is what Teddy Kennedy and John Kerry brought to the campaign," said Jersey City Deputy Mayor Kibili Tayari. "I always go back to Iowa and I go back to New Hampshire. You can’t say he just appeals to black people. We’re going to see some more Iowas and some more South Carolinas, and I really think he can work in New Jersey."
Codey is scheduled to appear with other Obama backers, including U.S. Sen. Bill Bradley, at the Wilshire Hotel in West Orange on Thursday at 1 p.m.
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Syndicate
makes little sense
I think Codey likes to get everyone angry. He is not as popular as he thinks he is. This will only alienate him once Hillary does so well in Fed 5
Important?
If Codey's endorsement was so important why was 1) Edwards doing so poorly in NJ and 2) was he talking about abandoning ship even before Edwards dropped out?
Now he can be doubly irrelevant.
I think he must have lost his canny touch when he took the Gov. title in front of his name.
Can the man not see one week in front of his face?
There's goes the Obama campaign
Its only a matter of time before he jumps ship (AGAIN) to endorse Clinton.
"He's New Jersey's version
"He's New Jersey's version of Teddy Kennedy" So true, so true.
Poll Watchers Never Learn
You all are so crazy thinking Hillary is a sure thing. The Democratic poll s have been off by around 20% (usually all in the same direction) up to this point.
Why in the world do you suddenly believe them now?
Feb 5. is a mystery to everybody, including the pollsters. I haven't seen one poll yet that has any candidate leading in any state by over 25 points. Until I do, I'll consider them all up for grabs.
Good for Codey
First Edwards, now Obama, tomorrow ...
We're losing sight..
of the fact that this is the first time that New Jerseyans will vote in a presidential primary on February 5.
NJ voters are not used to going to the polls on February 5. Therefore, it remains to be seen whether turnout will light or heavy.
Secondly, at this point there are many voters who are undecided. In a race like this, anything can happen on election day. This is a race that cannot be accurately prognosticated.
Obama or Hillary have the potential to emerge victorious in NJ.
Turnout will be lighter than usual Feb 5
Hillary will win by 3-5 points. Obama supporters seems to be more motivated. I see very little Clinton activity in Hudson or Essex, normally big turnout counties. There's no GOTV monies being spent. Plus, lots of the usual poll workers are in Florida this month so they recruited new poll workers who don't know what's what. Plus, that mid west ice storm maycome our way.
That giant sucking sound
Bold move on Codey's part. But then again boldness has never been Codey's weak suit.
As for the waffling charge. I'm pretty sure Edwards let his delegates know he was pulling out in advance, giving them an opportunity to make an alternative decision. Or do you think they found out on TV?
To all the Edwards supporters, my congratulations. I mean that. You guys (not gender specific) did more to steer the conversation, the dialogue to a better place than almost anyone else. It was nice to see the "invisible hand" back at work.
For a few months I've thought Edwards and Obama were in a "Survivor" alliance. I'll leave it up to your imigination to decide who the SEAL is and who's Richard Hatch. Just goes to show what I know.
One of the few bright spots for me in comparing Hillary Clintons record to the other candidates was when she laid into Greenspan who had or was testifying before Congress not long before his retirement. Greenspan said. and I'm paraphrasing here, "no one perdicted that the tax cuts would have such a dramatic effect" on the economy. HC cut him off and said "No sir, you did not predict, others did..." and the testimony went on.
I tell that story because in 1992 Ross Perot warned us of a "giant sucking sound coming from the southern border" and he was not talking about illegal immigration. He was talking about NAFTA and government subsidized "free trade" negotioations being championed by.....wait for it......Bill Clinton and the DLC. The same Dem Leadership Comm Hillary Clinton probably still belongs to (as a charter member only) and has beaten a trail away from almost as fast as being a member of the boad of directors of WAL MART. Funny huh, free trade, WAL MART, is we seeing a pattern here. The High Cost Of Low Price!
John Edwards and his supporters heard that giant sucking sound. Especially in North Carolina where it devastated the furniture business. And all we want to hear now, is when on Nov. 5, the air entirely deflates out of the Hillary Clinton inevitably balloon.
So get "FIRED UP" Edwards supporters, get "READY TO GO".....and let US change the world. But then again, what do I know.