Attorney Larry Stempler, who helped run Joe Biden’s small New Jersey campaign operation, didn’t originally have plans to go to Denver. But now, with the news Biden is Barack Obama’s vice presidential pick, he’s scrambling to see if he can arrange a flight to get there by Wednesday.

“As of this moment I was not planning to go, but my plans may have changed,” he said.

Stempler said that Biden’s legislative experience and appeal to various groups of voters who may have reservations about Obama outweighs and geographical downsides to picking a running mate from a small state on the eastern seaboard that already tends to vote Democratic.

Roselle Park felt a little bit like Des Moines last night, when about 200 Democrats gathered at an Italian restaurant for the New Jersey Democratic Caucus, where the results didn’t mean much but Democratic passion was on full display.

But if the results actually held water, then the world of New Jersey politics is topsy-turvy, because Hillary Clinton – who continues to lead state polls by 30% margins -- was eliminated in the first round of caucusing, coming in short of the 15% threshold with 27 members – 6 less than Dennis Kucinich’s 33.

And ultimately John Edwards, who barely makes a dent in New Jersey polls, prevailed with 76 supporters to Barack Obama’s 68 and Kucinich’s 34.

The event was conceived and organized by Jeff Gardner, co-chair of New Jersey for Democracy, and John Bartlett, Chairman of the Executive Committee of New Jersey’s Democratic Future.  Gardner had seen the Iowa caucuses four years ago, and thought it would be fun to imitate.  The two organizers invited every candidate – except one.