Dana Redd

TRENTON – Senator Dana Redd, D-Camden and Gloucester, today released the following statement regarding Governor Jon Corzine’s Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Address:

            “Today we were presented with a very sobering picture of the State’s financial crisis.  I commend the Governor for confronting the State’s fiscal challenges, in particular, the structural deficit. I realize that some budget cuts are necessary, but they are just one step in confronting the issues that have helped to exacerbate the State’s dire financial situation.

State Senator Dana Redd becomes the second New Jersey super delegate this month to switch from Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama, joining Democratic National Committeewoman Christine “Roz” Samuels. Redd is a super delegate in her capacity as the Democratic State Committee Vice Chair.

George Norcross, one of New Jersey's most powerful Democratic insiders, has endorsed Barack ObamaBarack Obama today picked up the support of two super delegates from New Jersey as several major Democratic leaders in South Jersey announced that they would switch their endorsements from Hillary Clinton to Obama. Super delegates Donald Norcross, who had previously been uncommitted, and State Sen. Dana Redd, who had backed Clinton, are now for Obama. This is a net pickup of two super delegates for Obama and a loss of one for Clinton.

Obama also won the backing of one of the state’s most powerful political insiders, George Norcross, and was endorsed by Clinton backers, including Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney, Democratic County Chairmen James Beach (Camden), Rick Perr (Burlington) and Michael Angelini (Gloucester), Camden Mayor Gwendolyn Faison, State Sen. Frederick Madden, and Assemblyman Paul Moriarty

Bill Clinton, joined by Gov. Jon Corzine, campaigned in Camden today: Getty Images Photo

After receiving criticism for his role in his wife's presidential campaign in New Hampshire and South Carolina, former President Bill Clinton stuck to a lawyerly script in Blackwood today, exactly one week before New Jersey's Feb. 5 primary.

"You must vote for someone not just to make history, but for someone who's going to build the future," said Clinton, in the one unnamed reference to Sen. Hillary Clintons chief opponent, Sen. Barack Obama.

In his second New Jersey appearance for his wife's campaign in as many months, Clinton told a crowd of 1,500 in Camden Community College's Papiano Gym that the most important reason to elect his wife as the Democratic presidential nominee is because she is a "proven change agent."

            TRENTON – Senator Dana Redd, D-Camden, today voted in favor of a paid family leave bill (S-786) as it was approved by the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee, saying her support “reflects my total commitment to the working community across this State.”

            The bill, sponsored by Senators Stephen M. Sweeney and Barbara Buono, now goes before the full Senate for consideration. It was approved 8-6 by the committee.

            “This bill is reflective of my total commitment to the working community across this State, as well as to the business community of New Jersey,” said Senator Redd, a member of the Senate budget panel.

State Sen. Ray Lesniak was the kingmaker in the race for Senate Majority LeaderThe surging south got a seat at the table today, with third district state Sen. Stephen Sweeney chosen as majority leader after a hard fought, emotional battle with state Sen. Paul Sarlo.

Although the decision-making process was closed and the official decision was unanimous, sources say that Sweeney had the support of 14 of the 23 member caucus. Backing Sweeney were the expected south Jersey contingent -- Jeff Van Drew, Jim Whelan, Fred Madden, Dana Redd and John Adler. But he also had support from Senators from the rest of the state -- Brian Stack, Sandra Bolden Cunningham, Barbara Buono, Nicholas Scutari, Bob Smith, Ray Lesniak, Joe Vitale and Loretta Weinberg.

The Courier-Post endorsed one Assembly candidate -- Republican Jonathan Mangel -- in the heavily Democratic 5th district, and pointedly refused to endorse Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts, State Senate candidate Dana Redd, and Assemblywoman Nilsa Cruz-Perez.  They said the other GOP and independent candidates were not worthy of endorsement.  READ

The Philadelphia Inquirer has endorsed six State Senate candidates: Democratic incumbents Steve Sweeney in District 3, Fred Madden in District 4 and John Adler in District 6, Republican incumbent Diane Allen in District 7, Democrat Dana Redd in District 5, and Republican Phil Haines in District 8.  READ

The Gloucester County Times has endorsed Republican Hans Berg for the State Senate seat being vacated by Wayne Bryant, and Democratic incumbents Joseph Roberts, the Assembly Speaker, and Nilsa Cruz-Perez for State Assembly in the 5th district.  READ

Key South Jersey Democrats believe that they could emerge from the fall midterm elections with seven State Senate seats, giving them a formidable block if there leadership contests.  Four seats are locks: incumbents Stephen Sweeney, Frederick Madden, and John Adler, and Dana Redd, who is seeking Wayne Bryant’s seat in Camden County.   Democrats are very high on their chances to oust Republicans Nicholas Asselta and James “Sonny” McCullough, and see a possible pickup in the open eighth district, where their Senate candidate is Francis Bodine, a Republican Assemblyman until he switched parties last spring.