There is a good chance Gov. Jon Corzine will pick his running mate before July 16, if for no other reason than to get the Democratic Lt. Governor nominee into the photos (and film for TV ads) when President Barack Obama campaigns in New Jersey.  If that happens, Republican Christopher Christie would have twelve days to consider Corzine's pick before making his own.

After nearly six months as President, Barack Obama enjoys a 61%-29% approval rating among New Jersey voters, according to a new Fairleigh Dickinson University poll released this morning.  That is a slight drop from his 66%-22% approvals in an April poll.

If Christopher Christie picks Kim Guadagno to run for Lt. Governor, and if they win the general election, look for Assemblyman David Rible (R-Wall) to seek her job as Monmouth County Sheriff.  As Governor, Christie would appoint an Acting Sheriff, with the advise and consent of the State Senate.  If he were to name Rible, it would trigger a special election convention to fill his eleventh district Assembly seat - assuming he wins re-election to a second term in November.  That would mean a November 2010 special election to fill the remaining fourteen months of Rible's term.  In the potentially competitive Monmouth County-based district, that would make for an interesting referendum on Christie's first ten months as Governor.

Two Mercer County women who had been viewed as potential Democratic Lt. Governor candidates say they are not under consideration: State Sen. Shirley Turner (D-Lawrence) and New Jersey Chamber of Commerce President Joan Verplanck both told PolitickerNJ.com that they have not been asked to fill out a questionnaire Gov. Jon Corzine is using in his running mate selection process.  Turner is one of three African American women who have been mentioned for LG, along with Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman and Secretary of State Nina Mitchell Wells.  Verplanck, a Republican, had been considered by Corzine earlier this month, but a trial balloon on her candidacy did not go over well with Democrats.

There is some discussion among Middlesex County Democrats that Jack O'Leary will drop out of the race for State Assembly in the nineteenth district, although the suddenly embattled South Amboy Mayor seems to be standing firm in his desire to remain a candidate.  O'Leary has been fighting the political effects of a widely-distributed nine-page anonymous letter that accuses him and members of his family of numerous corrupt acts.  O'Leary strongly denies the allegations, but admitted that South Amboy received a subpoena from the state Attorney General's office regarding aspects of his insurance business, according to The Home News' Rick Malwitz.

O'Leary was unopposed for the Democratic nomination after the incumbent, Joseph Vas (D-Perth Amboy), withdrew following his indictment on federal and state corruption charges.  If O'Leary does exit the race, look for Democrats to replace him with a Latino.

Sources say that three Republican Congressmen who backed Christopher Christie over Steven Lonegan in the 2009 gubernatorial primary may be challenged for the GOP nomination when they run for re-election next year.  Conservative activists are seeking candidates to run against Frank LoBiondo (R-Ventnor), Christopher Smith (R-Hamilton), and Leonard Lance (R-Clinton).

Two Democratic Congressmen who were on the House Judiciary subcommittee that questioned Christopher Christie  on Thursday found themselves with unrelated political problems of their own soon after the GOP candidate for Governor left Washington.  House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers' wife, Detroit City Councilwoman Monica Conyers, pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges -- she took envelopes stuffed with cash.  And Steve Cohen, the subcommittee chairman and the Democrat who most aggressively challenged Christie on deferred prosecution agreements, will face a tough primary in a district where African American voters are the majority.  Popular five-term Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton, an African American, said Thursday that he will challenge Cohen in the 2010 Democratic primary.

Fair Haven Mayor Michael Halfacre is expected to enter the race for the Republican nomination for Congress in New Jersey's 12th district.  He wants toun against six-term U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (D-Hopewell). 

Holt, 60, was elected to Congress in 1998 in a 51%-48% upset victory that took advantage of incumbent Michael Pappas' weaknesses.  He defied pundits two years later by holding the seat against former U.S. Rep. Dick Zimmer, winning by just 651 votes.  Boosted by some adjustments to his district after the 2000 Census, Holt won 61% against former N.J. Secretary of State DeForest "Buster" Soaries in 2002, 59% against GOP activist Bill Spadea in 2004, 65% against former Helmetta Councilman Joseph Sinagra in 2006, and 62% against Holmdel Deputy Mayor Alan Bateman in 2008.

Voting yes on the Senate confirmation of New Jersey Supreme Court Associate Justice Barry Albin early this morning was the Republican leader of the State Senate, Thomas Kean, Jr. (R-Westfield).  Christopher Bateman (R-Branchburg) and Sean Kean (R-Wall) were also among a group of Republicans who voted to confirm Albin, who may now serve on the state's top court until he reaches the age of seventy in 2022.

Only in New Jersey can the wheels of government be forced to come to a stop on the day the Legislature is considering the state budget and on the day the Senate will vote to confirm a Supreme Court Justice so that the Middlesex County Democratic Chairman can meet with the Judiciary Committee in his bid for a seat on the Sports and Exposition Authority.  The committee was set to reconvene so that it could consider the nomination of Joseph Spicuzzo, who called in sick on Monday and again this morning, and only came to Trenton when his bid to testify by telephone became a huge joke.  Now it appears that Spicuzzo, who has the flu, threw up while waiting in Gov. Jon Corzine's office and he won't get his confirmation hearing after all.