DNCC

Democrats and Republicans from New Jersey have one thing in common, at least so far: no speakers at the national party conventions this year.  The Democrats, half-way through their convention, have not invited any New Jerseyans to address the delegates.  And a preliminary list of speakers at the Republican convention next week does not include anyone from the Garden State.

DENVER - State Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex) hopes to help her team belt the GOP out of the ballpark on Nov. 4th, but so far Democrats remain uncomfortable in their own dugout.

Ruiz, Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo and Chief of Staff Phil Alagia all took turns at the plate at Coors Field on Tuesday, with DiVincenzo sending a couple of the pitches deep into the outfield, according to Ruiz and Alagia.

"I'm giving up my career in politics to try out for the Colorado Rockies," DiVincenzo said. State Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex) works on her batting technique with Dodger legend Steve Garvey.: Courtesy of Phil Alagia

The third day of the Democratic National Convention will be called to order at 5:00 PM EST on Wednesday, with a theme of "Securing America's Future."

The day will begin with the nominating process for President, including nominating speeches for U.S. Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.), followed by a roll call vote.

The headline speaker will be vice presidential nominee, U.S. Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.).

Featured speakers will include President Bill Clinton (D), U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Gov. Bill Richardson (D-N.M.), U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.), U.S. Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and former U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.).

The full schedule is below.

Assembled delegates hold anti-MCain and pro-Obama signs during day two of the Democratic National Convention in Denver: Getty Images Photo

• New Jersey delegates react to Clinton appeal for unit
• The Denver adventures of Tom Barrett
• Adler reflects on his moment in the sun
• Ferriero: business as usual
• Choi says young people really will turn out for Obama
• Ready for Clinton's close-up
• Clinton's on deck and it's the economy, stupid
• Van Hollen showcases Adler at DNC
• Newark Councilman James lauds Michelle Obama's speech
• Even VP slot wouldn't budge Booker from Newark, says mayor
• Denver International Airport's Lautenberg wing
• Emboldened by fellow women and Obama, Ruiz targets the GOP
• Gordon Johnson will leave Englewood council post
• Jackson wants to start hearing some fightin' words
• O'Brien's happy predicament
• McGrath's Kennedy connection
• From one woman politician to another, Weinberg praises Clinton
• Kominsky is all for Obama
• Pallone plans to stay in touch with Andrews
• Quigley sounds off on Jersey City mayoral race
• Gordon on Christie: "He clearly has his eyes on returning to politics"
• Adler and Myers set to debate
• Menendez won't speak at the convention
• Reaching back to the 1972 DNC with Lautenberg and McGovern
• By and large, delegation very positive about Michelle Obama's Monday speech

Gov. Jon Corzine with Bill and Hillary Clinton at an Invesco Field party: Politicker PhotoDENVER - Sen. Hillary Clinton's (D-N.Y.) speech was over, but the night wasn't done.

Invesco Field crowded the horizon like a set-piece out of "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," and State party Chairman Joe Cryan and West New York Mayor Sal Vega trudged under the crisscrossing Denver highways, leading a scattered contingent of the New Jersey delegation.

Inside they were greeted by the familiar strains of Bon Jovi's "Living on a Prayer," and when the rest of the haggard-looking delegation finally arrived, either by foot or bus from the nearby Pepsi Center, they found a stage overcrowded with Gov. Jon Corzine, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, and New York Gov. David Patterson.

Joining the governors on stage were none other than the Clintons.

Councilman Anibal Ramos: Politicker photo 

DENVER- Looking ahead to a rally with New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson when he returns to Newark’s North Ward after the convention, Councilman Anibal Ramos said he is prepared to do everything he can to help Democrats deliver a plurality of votes for Sen. Barack Obama (D-Il.).

The mostly Puerto Rican ward went for Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) over Obama in the Democratic Primary, but Ramos said the Democrats’ message of economic justice and Obama’s own story of prevailing over tough odds would help drive voters.

It won’t hurt, of course, that Newark’s best-oiled machine, the North Ward Democratic Organization, is behind Obama.

DENVER - As the New Jersey delegation burst through the double doors into the parking of the Pepsi Center, looking over the shoulders and around the bulky accouterments of any number of security personnel for a clear path to a party at Invesco Field, a small group of those formerly known as the "The Group" huddled on the pavement.

Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) had just spoken and so the emotion was still palpable, and Caren Turner, who has flirted with the idea of backing Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) rather than support the Democratic Primary conqueror of her candidate, remained unconvinced that she should back Barack.

"I’ve got to think about it," said Turner. "I’d like to see what his platform is going to be to get more women into positions of government."

With Turner stood Zenon Christodoulou, vice chair of the Somerset County Democratic Party and another Group member.

DENVER -- The reaction of the New Jersey delegation to Hillary Clinton’s speech tonight seemed almost uniformly positive. Most said she hit the right notes. All found her message a unifying one.

And perhaps the message that resonated most with the delegation was Clinton’s emphasis that her supporters weren’t just pulling for her, but a message that she said Barack Obama shares.

“I think Hillary Clinton really hit all the right notes. She did a magnificent job reminding everyone – she asked her supporters the right question: did you work so hard just for me or was it for all the causes that we believe in,” said U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman, who was Barack Obama’s most prominent early backer in New Jersey. “If it was ‘not just for me,’ if it was for the causes we all believe in, then you must support Barack Obama as President.”

It was a big night for State Senator/3rd District congressional candidate John Adler, who got to share the main stage at the Democratic National Convention with Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman (DCCC) Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and several other top Democratic House prospects.

It was a brief but powerful moment in the spotlight for Adler, who spoke one sentence in front of the crowd. 

“In a governmental, political sense, it meant a lot to me to be with people who together want to make a better, more prosperous, stronger America,” reflected Adler hours afterwards.  “And frankly, on a more personal basis, it was thrilling to me to have my wife in the front section, in the Illinois delegation, to take a picture of me.”

DENVER -- While an FBI raid a law office might unsettle the average politician, Joe Ferriero does not fit into that category.

It was business as usual tonight for the ultra-powerful Bergen County Democratic Chairman, who came to the Pepsi Center tonight with a smile and a tan. 

“I was here last night, I’ll be here through the convention. I was hosting meetings, doing fundraising, doing everything I’ve done the last two conventions I’ve been a delegate,” he said, denying talk of his relatively low profile in the delegation. 

Ferriero’s law office was raided late last week as part of an ongoing federal probe by U.S. Attorney Chris Christie.  But he seemed confident as ever tonight, even pledging that Barack Obama is going to make an appearance in Bergen County.

“I’m sure that he will be in Bergen County,” he said.