ATLANTIC CITY - The legislative leadership transmogrifications are evident at the Atlantic City Convention Center, even if the good government intentions are nowhere visible outside whatever sessions convene behind closed doors.  

A lot of people are talking about Senate President Richard Codey's party last night.

"An Irish wake," is how Sierra Club Executive Director Jeff Tittel describes the event.

More than a few people note that Codey appeared unflappable - even merry.

"Personable is not personal," explains another insider. "You have to understand the Irish. Whatever he's feeling inside, however personal he's taking this, will not take away from his ability to be personable."

The comment comes moments after Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-West Deptford) circumnavigates the big waiting area here outside the convention hall.

Codey has just a handful of days left on the clock before Sweeney - who announced this fall that he has the votes necessary in his caucus - dislodges the sitting senate president from his chair of power.

Republicans roam the carpeted hallway still hopeful of Codey cutting a deal with Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean (R-Westfield) for control of the upper house.

Speaking of which, there's Kean.

He enters the convention hall, chats amiably with Sen. John Girgenti (D-Hawthorne), and keeps moving, in the company of Sen. Robert Gordon (D-Paramus).

"We've already done our caucus vote and I have 17 Republicans with me," says the minority leader. "On Monday, the parties will caucus, but there won't be a vote by the whole senate. That will come in January. All we're doing on Monday as a whole is swearing in Mike Doherty."

Assemblyman Doherty (R-Washington Twp.) defeated state Sen. Marcia Karrow (R-Raritan Twp.) in the GOP primary earlier this year, then romped in the general election.

(Karrow is briefly visible, incidentally, on the far side of the convention hall).

Now a figure descends on the escalator and walks across the first floor waiting area.

It's Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver (D-East Orange).

Obviously, she's another person a lot of people are discussing because she's posied to become the first African American woman speaker of the Assembly upon the retirement at the end of this year by Speaker Joe Roberts (D-Camden).

"Roberts has been very good, very easy to talk to and work with," says Assemblyman David Rible (R-Wall).

As members of the minority party, both Rible and Assemblyman John Amodeo (R-Margate) thought Assemblyman Joe Cryan (D-Union Twp.) was going to be the next speaker - or at least they had heard that might be the case.

"Very good, very approachable," affirm both of them about Cryan.

But they're not very familiar with Oliver, who until last month when she vaulted to prominence as Roberts's heir apparent as part of a North-South leadership deal, was barely known outside of her Essex County legislative district.

Assemblyman Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield) climbs off the escalator and falls into the embrace of Trenton Councilman Manny Segura after the two of them learn of their respective roots: Perth Amboy and Plainfield.

"We always used to play Plainfield in baseball," says Segura.

"I was on the Plainfield Basketball team - I mean, on the bench of the Plainfield Basketball team," says Bramnick, who a moment later says, "No idea," when asked about rumors that Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce (R-Parsippany) might be bound for the Christie adminsitration.

DeCroce's departure from the legislature might mean Bramnick's ascension as his replacement.

Speaking of Christie, no he's not here - but he's due here tomorrow to give an address at this 94th annual League of New Jersey Muncipalities conference.