Bill Baroni

GOP State Chairman Tom WilsonMINNEAPOLIS - A floor blanketed with white faces at the Republican National Convention doesn’t mean the GOP - or their presidential nominee - lack a universal message, argues State Republican Chairman Tom Wilson.

Coming off their convention in Denver last week, Democrats urged observers to note the contrast between their ethnically diverse party and the Republicans.

"When you have a quota system, it guarantees the result you saw in Denver," Wilson shot back. "Look, you have one million Republicans in New Jersey, and 52 New Jerseyans sitting on the floor, representing them. These 52 people are there day in and day out doing the hardcore party activism.

"Our hardcore party activists are predominantly middle class, white New Jersey," Wilson added.

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts’s decision to kill the Clean Elections Program wasn’t met with regret by Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean, Jr.

Although Kean voted for the previous incarnations of the pilot program, he said that, even if it’s retooled for 2011, he’s not sure whether he’ll support it again.

"I never agreed that just because there was a Clean Elections program last year there had to be one this year. But clearly we have to ensure that the program is constitutional.”

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- To hear Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce tell it, Legislative District 14 will be a major battleground in next year’s assembly races.

That’s where State Sen. Bill Baroni (R-Hamilton) heads a district with two Democrats lower down in the Assembly, eight year veteran Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro) and the newly elected Wayne DeAngelo (D-Hamilton).

DeAngelo, beause he’s been in office less than a year, is the obvious target. But DeCroce, who wasn’t specific about who he’d like to recruit to run, said he’s gunning for Greenstein as well.

“Linda’s a nice lady, but I think her voting record leaves something to be desired, frankly, and I think it’s time for a change,” he said. “Obviously Linda would be the tougher one, being a lady too and a nice person. It’s not easy, but you have to show there’s a difference between the candidates and the incumbent, and the issues are going to be on our side.”

Despite all the buzz surrounding state Sen. Bill Baroni as a possible U.S. Attorney pick if John McCain wins the presidency, Baroni won’t touch the topic.

“I’ve spent nine years working for John McCain, and the only new job that I care that somebody gets out of November’s election is John McCain becoming president. There’s no other consideration, no other thought, no other discussion about any other job – period,” he said.

Baroni, an attorney, teaches a course at Seton Hall Law, and headed up the effort against Sen. Robert Toricelli’s ballot switch with Frank Lautenberg in 2002. 

“I have spent hours in the snows of New Hampshire and Michigan, and the traffic of southern California, and now nine months later we’re two months away from electing John McCain,” he said.  “I’m not going to begin to discuss hypotheticals.  This is all about John McCain. It has been for nine years, and it will be for 9 more weeks.”

Like the Democrats last week, the New Jersey delegation at the Republican delegation is sitting in the back of the house – way off to the podium’s right, but close enough to get a profile view of the speakers. 

New Jersey McCain State Coordinator Rick Mroz, however, said the issue comes up at every convention, and it doesn’t bother him. 

“I love our seats,” he said. “It’s actually still a pretty intimate setting with the delegation on that floor, so I don’t have a problem with it.”

Mike DuHaime at today's breakfast.: Politicker photo

MINNEAPOLIS - State Sen. Bill Baroni (R-Mercer) and McCain Campaign Political Director Mike DuHaime grew up together in the Republican Party, working for then-Congressman Bob Franks.

Referring to their paths onward as time passed, "One of them made good, and the other became a state senator," Baroni joked to the delegation at this morning’s breakfast.

Among those smiling faces in the audience was none other than the youthful DuHaime, paying his respects to his home crowd in this distant Midwestern city. The former campaign manager of Rudy Giuliani officially joined Team McCain in early July and now works out of Arlington, Va.

BLOOMINGTON, Minn.  – Former Arkansas governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee wondered out loud today why the New Jersey delegation had asked him to speak to their delegation this afternoon.”

“Why on earth would they invite a southern boy to speak to the folks of New Jersey today?  Must have been the novelty,” he said.

That was the extent of Huckabee’s remarks regarding New Jersey today.  Instead, he launched into an eight minute speech praising Sen. John McCain as an honorable man who’s ready to be president, along with the pick of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for Vice President.

“Today you’re going to hear us say wonderful things, but the good thing is we don’t have to make it up.  We genuinely believe John McCain is tested, prepared and ready to be president,” he said. 

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- Just days after the Democrats’ celebratory bash in Denver, the New Jersey Republican delegation arrived at their hotel just outside Minneapolis today in a sober mood amid news that Hurricane Gustav was bearing down on the Gulf Coast.

State Sen. Bill Baroni (R-Hamilton), who’s heading up McCain’s New Jersey campaign, emceed the event’s first delegation meeting, a no-frills meeting where he acknowledged that this convention would be different than ones past.

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain “made it very explicit to all of us that this convention is about our country, and we’re going to put our country ahead of party,” said Baroni. “I know that sounds strange to say sometimes at a convention, but Sen. McCain today made that very clear, and for the entire length of his career, he’s meant it.”

State Sen. Bill Baroni said that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is an “extraordinary choice” who will put New Jersey in play.

News reports this morning say McCain has tapped Palin, 44, as his running mate.

“Now with an 8 week campaign, we’ve got a great ticket that for New Jersey that obviously appeals to the blue collar voters,” said Baroni, the chairman of McCain’s New Jersey campaign. “Now we’re adding a conservative choice in Sarah Palin who appeals to New Jersey’s conservative and independent voters, men and women.”

And while Palin couldn’t come from a state more different than New Jersey, Baroni said that her ethics-based gubernatorial campaign and spats with Rep. Don Young (R-Ala.) will resonate with Garden State voters.

Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein and Gov. Jon Corzine during the 2007 campaign.: Politicker photo
DENVER -- Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro) made the calculations and passed up a run for state Senate against Bill Baroni (R-Hamilton) in District 14 last year. But with all the buzz surrounding Baroni’s future if John McCain is elected president, there may be a short cut to the Senate for Greenstein.

Baroni, who’s leading the McCain campaign in New Jersey, would likely be a leading candidate for U.S. Attorney under the McCain Administration (providing current U.S. Attorney Chris Christie leaves the post). That would allow Greenstein, a popular incumbent, a legitimate shot at the higher chamber in a special election.

“I would like to move up to the Senate. Obviously if the people of my district would like me to,” she said.