November 2, 2008 - 11:19am
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Ruiz one of several 'excellent' Lt. Governor possibilities, says Menendez

State Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex)

JERSEY CITY - Asked about state Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex) as a potential candidate for lieutenant governor, U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-Hoboken) said he liked the idea.

"She is one of several people in our party who would be an excellent candidate," Menendez told PolitickernJ.com at an Obama rally on Saturday. "It's the governor's decision ultimately, of course, and I do not envy him, because there are numerous qualified people."

Other potential lieutenant governor candidates among the Democrats include Newark Mayor Cory Booker and Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing).

But with her strong South Jersey connections to balance Gov. Jon Corzine's northern roots, state Sen. Dana Redd (D-Camden) gets the most buzz in Democratic Party circles.

A product of Newark's powerful North Ward Democratic Party machine, Ruiz won a decisive election in 2007 to capture her first term in office. 

Max Pizarro is a PolitickerNJ.com Reporter and can be reached via email at max@politicsnj.com.

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