Doug Forrester

by David P. Rebovich

Last fall's Corzine-Forrester race was far and away the most expensive gubernatorial campaign in state history. Most New Jerseyans also regard it as the most negative. The Democrats described GOP gubernatorial candidate Doug Forrester as a front man for the unpopular, ultraconservative Bush Administration in Washington. Republicans characterized Corzine as the leader of the Democratic Party cabal that condoned political corruption and brought the state to the bring of bankruptcy. In the end Corzine won in a landslide and the Democrats picked up seats in the General Assembly where the they now have a 49-31 majority, their biggest in three decades.

By Steve Adubato, Ph.D.

What an interesting year in New Jersey politics. What better way to end 2005 than to honor the good, the bad and the pretty ugly on the political scene?

--The "Most Impressive Political Performance in 2005" award no doubt goes to Acting Governor and Senate President Dick Codey. Codey got the call that he would have to step up and stand in for disgraced outgoing Governor Jim McGreevey. Codey did it like a pro. He gave a budget address that was sobering and candid. He talked about the state being on the verge of bankruptcy. He made some tough fiscal decisions and raised the bar for others in Trenton. He also negotiated what seems like a good deal with the Jets and the Giants over at the Meadowlands. His advocacy of mental health issues together with his wife Mary Jo (who candidly spoke about her serious depression) was noteworthy. Simply put, Codey had the common touch that appealed to most voters.

--The "Dumbest Campaign Move" this past year was made by Republican candidate for governor, Doug Forrester. Forrester, down in the polls, late in the fourth quarter did something he publicly said he wouldn’t do. He used the brutally negative comments of Jon Corzine’s ex-wife Joanne Corzine who said Corzine had let his family down and would probably let New Jersey down as well. Forrester was probably going to lose anyway, because New Jersey rarely elects Republicans statewide, but with this move he turned off people on a much deeper level. Simply put, it’s in really bad taste to use the comments of ex- and often-spurned spouses in the political arena. Doug Forrester knew better but he did it anyway.

--The "Most Impressive Figure in a Political Ad" was Doug Forrester’s wife Andrea who did a heartfelt and sincere testimonial for her husband. Too bad they couldn’t have run that ad for the entire campaign. Doug might have had a fighting chance.

--The "Put Your Money Where Your Mouth is Award" goes to Governor-elect Jon Corzine. Some may not be thrilled that Corzine spent over $40 million in the governor’s race combined with the over $60 million getting elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000, but it is his right and apparently he believes in himself and his message. Corzine’s deep pockets also scared off everyone else and allowed him to focus on strategy and execution as opposed to fundraising. That’s a hell of an advantage and Corzine used it to the max.

--The "Most Talked About Woman in New Jersey Politics in 2005" was CWA president Carla Katz, who had a personal relationship with Corzine and was lucky enough to have him loan her almost a half million dollars to purchase a home and then forgive the debt. Everyone was talking about Carla Katz and her relationship with Corzine, but in the end it didn’t matter very much to voters.

--The "Clearing the Air" award goes to all those involved in the legislature and the governor’s office in supporting a law that would ban smoking in virtually all public places, excluding select areas in casinos. This legislation is long overdue and those who argue that they have a "right" to blow smoke in other people’s faced in public areas are simply dead wrong. New Jersey will be better off and healthier for cutting down on second hand smoke, particularly when people are eating in restaurants.

--The “Catchiest Slogan in New Jersey Politics� was "pay to play." Every politician is against the practice of having fat cats contribute to campaigns and then get government contracts, but it has been going on in New Jersey since the beginning of time. Officially ending “pay to play� won’t guarantee that influence and money won’t continue to matter more than merit when it comes to future government contracts being doled out.

--The "He Still Doesn’t Get It Award" goes to Jim McGreevey. Word is, even though he got $500,000 to tell the dirty details of his shocking story, sources say McGreevey isn’t ready yet to spill his guts. He would rather talk about public policy and his ideas for how government should work. Hey, Jim, let’s be honest. Nobody really cares what you think about any of that stuff. Anyone who is going to buy your book is going to want to know how you managed to get married twice and have two children, all the while knowing you were gay. Why else would a publisher give you half a million bucks?

--The "Political Bloodline Award" goes to Tom Kean, Jr. You couldn’t have a better or more popular father than former Governor Tom Kean, Sr. He is golden. Untouchable. Particularly after his work chairing the 9/11 Commission. Everyone loves him, including Democrats. Simply put, the Kean name gives Tom Jr. a legitimate shot at getting elected to the U.S. Senate in the fall.

Kean Jr. Gets 'Caught In The Headlights' On The Stem Cell Issue
He Votes Against Research/Medical Plan - But He's Unable To Take A Position As He Continues To 'Study' The Issue
Trenton - As political leaders, high-tech businesses, the medical community and research scientists move forward to capture the promise and opportunities of stem cell research, State Senator Tom Kean, Jr.'s failure to take a position on the issue shows a "lack of political fortitude," according to Joseph Cryan, vice chairman of the Democratic State Committee.

Some Republican insiders are calling Morris County Freeholder John Murphy one of the leading candidates for the 2009 gubernatorial nomination. Murphy, who finished third in the June primary, was perhaps the only second-tier candidate to break out of the pack, and party leaders were impressed by his ability to carry Morris County over the two leading candidates, Douglas Forrester and Bret Schundler. Murphy's '05 test run that enabled him to develop relationships with party leaders across the state -- the last four elected Governors had run statewide before. Perhaps wisely, Murphy recognized that Forrester was unlikely to beat Corzine; his campaign team has been meeting monthly since the June primary to make plans for the '09 campaign and are in constant telephone contact. "John has been working the 'rubber chicken' circuit since June and has a tireless work ethic that immediatly puts him at an advantage at this early stage," a Murphy for Governor campaign staffer told PoliticsNJ.com.

"John Murphy ran a solid and well-respected primary campaign and I think its only natural to think he would be on the shortest of lists in 2009 if he decided to make another run," said Jeffrey Booker, the former Camden GOP Executive Director and a Forrester supporter in 2005. "His natural political skills are obvious and he would represent the GOP very well. His presence in a potential primary field would be greeted very warmly by the party's rank and file."

The other Republicans most often mentioned by insiders for '09: U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie, whose record of taking on corruption as federal prosecutor has won him considerable acclaim; and Assemblyman Bill Baroni, whose pro-labor, pro-life positions helped him win a landside re-election bid in a Democratic-leaning district. Schundler has refused to rule out a third gubernatorial bid.

Richard Levesque, who served as Political Director of Doug Forrester's campaign for Governor, will become the Executive Director of the powerful Burlington County Republican Organization on December 1. Levesque will succeed Sean Kennedy, who has taken a position with Maser Engineering.

by David P. Rebovich

Doug Forrester ran a desperate one that featured an uncomplimentary quote from the former Mrs. Jon Corzine about her ex-husband's character. Corzine had a highly emotional one in which a quadriplegic declared that Forrester doesn't care about people like him. Loyalists in both campaigns, along with many editors, reporters, and average citizens, rated these as the two worst ads in the governor's race. But just a few weeks after the most expensive gubernatorial campaigns in the state's history, and the one with the lowest voter turnout, it seems that the worst ads were actually the positive ones run by both camps.

What are New Jerseyans thankful for?

Richard Codey is thankful for Golan Cipel, who enabled him to spend fourteen months as the Governor of New Jersey.

Jon Corzine is thankful for Doug Forrester's pollster, Arthur Finkelstein.

Steve DeMicco is thankful for Marcus Goldman and Samuel Sachs. (So are many, many other New Jersey Democrats.)

Doug Forrester is thankful he wasn't worth more money. He's thankful -- "grateful," actually -- for having once again had the opportunity and privilege of serving as his party's standard-bearer.

Tom Kean Jr. is thankful for DNA -- or maybe not, depending upon the accuracy of the Quinnipiac poll. He's also thankful the Codey family doesn't like Washington.

Steve Corodemus and Sean Kean are thankful that gays in Asbury Park don't vote.

New York and Philadelphia television stations are thankful for Jon Corzine, Doug Forrester and the public financing of gubernatorial primary candidates.

Regena Thomas is thankful no one really cares whether the Secretary of State is a full-time job.

Joe Fiordaliso is thankful he's headed off to the BPU before Jon Corzine arrives in Trenton.

Senate Republicans are thankful meteorologists are not predicting a harsh winter.

Tom Wilson is thankful the Republican State Committee raised almost $1 million this year. The Democrats are thankful for that too.

The Assembly Democratic Caucus is thankful for the support of the 37th district Democratic County Committee; the Senate Democratic Caucus is thankful Joe Ferriero at least tried.

Chris Christie is thankful for all the people who make his job possible. So is Wayne Bryant.

Nelson Albano is thankful for the incompetence of Drew McCrosson.

Jen Beck is thankful John Bennett wasn't heading her ticket and Mike Panter is thankful people haven't forgotten about Bennett.

Democrats, Doug Forrester says, are thankful for George W. Bush.

Bob Schroeder is thankful all you need to run for Governor is 1,000 signatures, and, for some still undisclosed reason, George Gilmore.

Jon Corzine is thankful someone like Tom Byrne didn't run as an Independent. And he's thankful Steve Kornacki's report that Bill Bradley was challenging him in the Democratic primary was just an April Fool's Day joke.

Amy Handlin is especially thankful that Sam Thompson isn't going to try to bang her. And Joe Azzolina is thankful Thompson isn't going to bang him either.

And PoliticsNJ.com -- well, we're still thankful for Bob Torricelli -- and Torricelli, facing the prospect of New Jersey's Senate seats being occupied by Frank Lautenberg and Bob Menendez, is probably thankful we've become such a forgiving people.

MORGAN CALLS ON O'SCANLON TO CONCEDE

Says the Voters Have Spoken

From Roll Call's Stuart Rothenberg: "New Jersey is easy to decipher. Democratic presidential nominees John Kerry and Al Gore carried it by 7 and 16 points respectively, drawing 53 and 56 percent. Jon Corzine drew 53 percent of the vote and won by almost 10 points on Tuesday. In other words, a Democratic state elected a Democratic governor by a 'normall" Democratic margin."

When strong Doug Forrester ran for the United States Senate in 2002, George W. Bush had an approval rating of 63%, yet Forrester lost to Frank Lautenberg by ten percentage points.

by David P. Rebovich

A relatively close race turned into a route last Tuesday when Jon Corzine beat Doug Forrester by over 200,000 votes and a 53-44 percent margin to become New Jersey's next governor. Democrats here were both happy and relieved that their party was able to hold onto the governor's office after the tumultuous McGreevey years. Political observers around the nation were surprised the state's Democrats could do so well at the polls despite citizens' anger about high property taxes and political corruption.