Public option advocate Andrews believes healthcare issue helps Corzine

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."

Andrews acknowledged that the healthcare argument has yet to reach independent voters in substantial numbers.

Amid concerned looks cast in the wake of Corzine's walk through the crowd here and off-the-record hand-wringing over poll numbers that continue to show the governor up against it, however, Andrews said he believes Corzine will do well in South Jersey.

"First of all, the governor has delivered on big economic projects - education and transportation construction, and people know (Republican gubernatorial candidate) Chris Christie would be a very different governor," Andrews said. "Secondly, this is a year when we have contested Assembly races and the fate of Assembly people is tied to the governor, so they have a vested interest to work hard. Third, down here Gov. Corzine has come through on funding for Cooper Hospital, Campbell's Soup and the casino industry." 

Regarding the intra-party Trenton scuff-up between Senate President Richard Codey (D-Roseland) and Andrews's South Jersey colleague, Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney and the possibility of that spat spilling with negative consequences into the gubernatorial contest, Andrews said, "That doesn't affect the governor's race at all. There are about 100 people engaged in that fight and they are all capable of walking and chewing gum at the same time."