James Polos

U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-Long Branch), center, in the crowd today with Assemblyman Joe Egan (D-New Brunswick), left, and Middlesex County Freeholder H. James Polos.

EDISON - Against a landscape of Middlesex County Democratic Party strife, Vice President Joe Biden this afternoon stumped for Gov. Jon Corzine, arguing the international context of the recession, which he said Republican candidate Chris Christie has tried to pin solely on Corzine.

"Jon has said he governed in tough times," said the vice president. "Let's give him the chance to govern in good times."

Deadlocked with Christie, according to most polls, Corzine's handlers want him to repeat a double-barrel message from here until Election Day two weeks from now: remind people that he acted early to blunt the impact of the recession, and that the pro-unon, pro-choice, anti-gun incumbent shares the values of most New Jersey voters. 

Biden was here to amplify that two-pronged argument.

"Isn't it great we have Barack Obama and Joe Biden in the White House?" Corzine asked the crowd. "Their values are our values, right?"

Gov. Jon Corzine signs an executive order creating the Hellenic-American Heritage Commission.

PRINCETON - Branded an outsider early in his race with GOP gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie, and the prodigal son of either Wall Street or Illinois, or both, Gov. Jon Corzine seized on the presence of 350 Greek Americans in Drumthwacket this evening to make his case as a New Jerseyan by choice. 

"Thirty-percent of people in New Jersey today are first or second generation immigrants," added Corzine, moments before signing an executive order creating the Hellenic-American Heritage Commission to be headed by Zenon Christodoulou, son of the late Dr. Chris Christodolou, a national leader in the Greek-American community for 30 years. 

"This state has always welcomed people who have thought of this place as one of oppportunity, who recognize the wonder of our diversity," said Corzine at an event where guests enjoyed Greek cuisine, folkloric dancing and a dramatic reading of Plato's Apology. 

Joining the governor onstage was former U.S. Sen. Paul Sarbanes (D-Maryland), a Greek-American who went to Princeton University and who has family ties to Southern New Jersey.

Freeholders-elect, Carol Barrett (left) and Mildred Scott, await their swearing-in Tuesday.

EDISON - Carol Barrett assumed the oath of office here in a packed auditorium at Middlesex County Community College while her son and the widow of long-serving Freeholder David Crabiel and the Crabiel’s daughter stood by her side.

Judge Todd Mayo, chief judge of the East Brunswick Municipal Court, held Crabiel’s personal Bible where Barrett placed her hand. 

Later, Stephen J. “Pete” Dalina, a 20-year veteran of the board and Crabiel’s ally, received the board’s unanimous support for freeholder direct on a motion by Freeholder H. James Polos, seconded by Freeholder Christopher Rafano.