The politics of corruption

The tidal wave unleashed this week by the FBI and the US Attorney's Office across New Jersey will likely re-calibrate the campaign for Governor.  While the corruption did not touch the Governor personally in any way, the investigation of his DCA Commissioner and the arrest of the protégé of his long-time counselor and advisor Angelo Genova are certainly too close for comfort, and re-set the general election campaign in terms unfavorable for the Democrats.

It is true that Governor Corzine's approval ratings, favorable standing, and ballot strength were all at all time lows, according to all independent public opinion polls.  It is also true that the Governor received no apparent "bounce" from the visit last week by President Obama.  The latest Strategic Vision poll after the visit showed an even stronger Christie lead.

But it is also true that the Governor's spending of his vast personal wealth on early negative advertising had an opportunity to tilt the playing field to his advantage, as his opponent could not match him dollar for dollar.

The Governor has spent in excess of $4 million since the primary for this purpose.

Unfortunately for him, this spending might have been in vain, thanks to a bunch of corrupt New Jersey officials.

This massive arrest will reinforce the public's prevailing view that NJ is moving in the wrong direction and its time for a change.  The preponderance of Democratic Party officials in this sweep will not allow anyone to credibly claim corruption is truly an equally bi-partisan problem in New Jersey.

Moreover, the arrests themselves remove many workers and leaders from the Governor's re-election apparatus.

Nobody was expecting Dan Van Pelt to deliver Waretown for Chris Christie, but presumably Genova protégé Peter Cammarano was expected to deliver significant Democrat margins in Hoboken, which just elected him Mayor.

Instead of taking a victory lap or engaging in chest-thumping, Chris Christie's measured, mature, and reserved reaction to this news demonstrated a significant degree of maturity, sensibleness, and good judgment that voters are learning they can come to expect from him.

The fact that the election has been turned again on its head - this time on grounds that form the "sweet spot" of Chris Christie and Kim Guadagno's strengths, really prove again --- as if we needed any more proof --- that in New Jersey politics anything can happen.