Bill Clinton

Bad weather kept Hillary Clinton from attending her own New Jersey fundraiser last night, but the Democrats who helped raise nearly $1 million for his presidential campaign weren’t disappointed.  They got Bill Clinton instead, and it’s the former President’s appeal that helped draw them to Team Hillary in the first place.

But the Clinton supporters who attended the event seem keenly aware of Barack Obama’s surge in Iowa and New Hampshire, and many – including the former President – are in full spin mode as they seek to hold on to Hillary Clinton’s front runner status.

"Of all of the states, Iowa is the most challenging one for her to start, because Senator Edwards has worked hard there for seven years, and did very well there four years ago," Clinton explained of a state where Obama now has an eight point lead.  "He’s been to all the counties once, and he’s going around on a second tour."

Linking his wife's record with his presidency, Clinton says 28 million new American jobs emerged in the last 16 years - 22.7 of them during his eight years in office.

Outside the State Theatre in New Brunswick Wednesday night, students and other activists decry Sen. Hillary Clinton's centrist views, and her support for the Iraq War.

Former President Bill Clinton will attend a Clinton '08 fundraiser tonight in New JerseyThere’s a chance Hillary Clinton won’t be able to make it to her fundraiser tonight in New Brunswick, but donors need not fret: Bill Clinton will definitely be there.

Hillary Clinton may have trouble getting to New Jersey and back to Iowa in time for tomorrow’s Democratic Debate due to an ice storm that yesterday interrupted presidential campaigns, said Clinton finance committee co-chair John Graham. But her husband, who had not previously planned to attend, will fill in for her.

“We may have both of them. If not -- if Hillary gets stuck and has to get out there -- at least Bill will be there,” said Graham. “I’m thrilled about it.”

Few people who knew Larry Craig were probably surprised by the news of his arrest. Washington isn't known as a city to keep secrets and his sexual orientation was generally understood. What was surprising was the speed and intensity with which his Republican colleagues separated themselves from him.

Within hours of Craig's acknowledgement of his arrest for lewd conduct in a Minneapolis airport restroom, he was stripped of his Committee assignments. Senators McCain and Coleman urged him to resign.

Craig has to be wondering about the intensity of the reaction. Perhaps he might reach some understanding in the hypocrisy of his situation. His colleagues must recall his vitriolic speeches demanding Bill Clinton's resignation. He was a self appointed spokesman for the American family and he fought every attempt at advocating the rights of gay Americans.

Let me see if I've got this right. Bill Clinton supposedly lied during a civil deposition about a nonmaterial fact involving a personal relationship and they impeached him as President of the United States. Scooter Libby lied about remembering being briefed about  Valarie Palme being a CIA agent. He's going to jail.

Now put Rudy Guliani in the picture. His staff told him that his nominee for the NYPD Police Commissioner, Bernard Kerik,  associated with organized crime figures. He was informed of alleged gratuities that Kerik was receiving from for these individuals while assisting them with government approvals. Guliani testified before a federal grand jury that he doesn't remember the briefing. He's running for President.

The New Jersey Democratic State Committee has already raised $2.1 million for the Governor's Gala tonight featuring former President Bill Clinton.  That amount is double what the Republican State Committee raised last week at a major event with President George W. Bush. Clinton will be joined by Governor Jon Corzine, U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, Democratic State Chairman Joe Cryan, Senate President Richard Codey, Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts, and Newark Mayor Cory Booker.

Former President Bill Clinton will headline a major Democratic fundraiser in June, an event described by the state party as "a modest style, with a cocktail reception rather than a formal dinner and business attire instead of tuxedos and gowns" -- at $1,500-per-person.

CODEY’S OFFICIAL GUBERNATORIAL PORTRAIT UNVEILED

TRENTON – The official gubernatorial portrait of former Governor and Senate President Richard J. Codey was unveiled today at a ceremony in the Senate Chambers of the State House before legislators, current and former staff, and family members. Codey will join other governors from recent history whose portraits hang in the Governor’s Outer Office at the Statehouse.