Mark Alexander

Mark Alexander

A few middle and lower rung Democratic Party operatives tried to inject the name of Seton Hall University Law Professor Mark Alexander into the lieutenant governor sweepstakes last week as Randal Pinkett 's candidacy, once leaked, tanked fast.

While Alexander's LG candidacy lasted almost as long as a single lunch meeting at Pal's Cabin, the former state director for Barack Obama's presidential campaign in New Jersey today said he was delighted with Gov. Jon Corzine's choice today of state Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck) as his running mate.  

“Loretta Weinberg is an excellent choice for lieutenant governor," said Alexander. "I am so glad to have worked closely with her, particularly during the primaries, as she was a great representative of our campaign. She has excellent experience and will be a great partner with Jon Corzine in Trenton."

Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo, center, greets state Sen. Joe Kyrillos (R-Middletown), now chair of the Christie campaign, with Steve Adubato, Jr., left, and Christie confidante Bill Palatucci at last year's North Ward Center party at the Breakers.

Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo officially scratched himself off a shortening - and then lengthening - and now indeterminate lieutenant governor gossip sheet tonight, saying he wouldn't take the job if Gov. Jon Corzine offered. 

"I'm going to be running for Essex County Executive next year," said DiVincenzo, who is seeking his third term. "The more successful I am as county executive, people are interested in me wanting to run for lieutenant governor. But I'm not interested.

"I'm running for re-election," he added. "Jon knows I'm going to work very hard to get him re-elected."

DiVincenzo said he heard the LG rumors kick in about him on Friday, and he dismissed them. Today, The Inside Edge wrote a piece acknowledging the backchatter.

"I never talked to the governor, he never called me about this, I just want to put the rumor to rest," DiVincenzo told PolitickerNJ.com.

Elizabeth Alexander, who was commissioned to write and deliver an original poem for President Barack Obama’s inauguration today, is the sister of Mark Alexander, a Seton Hall University law professor who ran Obama’s primary campaign in New Jersey.   They are the children of Clifford Alexander, who served as a White House aide under Lyndon Johnson and as U.S. Secretary of the Army under Jimmy Carter. 

Mark Alexander at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

Mark Alexander, state director of the Obama campaign during the primary and a senior policy director during the general, has not been offered a position in the president-elect's administration.

But he could be tempted if the offer comes his way.

“I am on the schedule to teach Constitutional Law at Seton Hall in the spring term, and I look forward to that," Alexander told PolitickerNJ.com.  "I love my life here in New Jersey, and I can’t comment on any future job possibilities in Washington. If I were offered an opportunity to serve in the Obama Administration, I would of course have to consider that opportunity seriously.”

Following the Feb. 5th New Jersey Primary, Alexander worked in other primary states in addition to later fulfilling duties in his homestate.

In the wake of the Nov. 4th election, he told friends that after months on the trail, he would find it difficult to uproot his family from Montclair to re-locate to Washignton, D.C.  Whatever happens, he said he wants to relish the time he has here in his home state in the aftermath of the grueling campaign.

Politico is speculating that former Gov. Thomas Kean, a Republican, is a possible candidate for U.S. Secretary of Education in Barack Obama's cabinet.  Kean served as Governor of New Jersey from 1982 to 1990, and President of Drew University from 1990 to 2004.  Also on the list of Education Department candidates: University of Oklahoma President David Boren, a former Democratic U.S. Senator from Oklahoma; and U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.).

The Politico list does not include Seton Hall University Law Professor Mark Alexander as a candidate for White House Counsel.  Alexander was included on a short list published by the American Bar Association last week.

The American Bar Association Journal has listed Mark Alexander, a Seton Hall law professor, as a favorite to become White House Counsel if Barack Obama wins the presidency. Alexander, now a senior advisor to the Obama campaign, served as National Issues Director and managed Obama's New Jersey campaign for the February 5 Democratic primary. According to the article, the list was compiled after dozens of interviews with people who know the candidate well.

PATERSON - Since North Ward Democratic leader Steve Adubato brought New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson to the Flamboyan on the weekend after the Democratic National Convention, major Latino leaders have to this point hardly shown overwhelming enthusiasm in their endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Il.).

Hillary Clinton beat Obama in the Democratic Primary by almost ten percent or roughly the equivalent of the Latino vote, which is heavily Democratic in New Jersey and which was energized for Feb. 5th by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-Hoboken), Adubato and U.S. Rep. Albio Sires (D-West New York).

Now heading for the general election in three weeks and mindful - but not fearful - of that primary falloff in Latino numbers for Obama, party leaders held a Spanish and Spanglish-heavy rally here today, in a city that's over 50 percent Latino, in a county where Latinos number 44,849, or well over a fifth of all registered voters in Passaic.

Lautenberg rallies with Bikers for Obama: Politicker photoWEST ORANGE - The leather-clad bikers roared into the parking lot, revving overtime - and they kept coming, motley in motion, mufflers drowning out the after effects of rhetoric, the noise near to deafening - as a senatorial figure with a shock of white hair practically broke from his handlers and strode down among them.

He looked so senatorial, in fact, that - was it actually...

Yes, it was definitely 84-year old U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-Cliffside Park) emerging from the opening of the Obama campaign’s West Orange headquarters and personally welcoming a newly formed Essex County club, Bikers for Obama, which this morning numbered about 200 strong.

U.S. Rep. Donald Payne (D-Newark) joined the senator, jumping aboard a Harley as one of the bikers outfitted Lautenberg with a leather vest.

Mark Alexander: Politicker file photo

DENVER -- U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's choice of veteran U.S. Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) to serve as his running mate prompted an immediate reaction from Mark Alexander of Montclair, Obama's senior adviser and former New Jersey state director.

Alexander cited Biden's foreign policy credentials as a key reason for why he is a good vice residential candidate. He also identified Biden's outspokenness as a positive.

"Joe Biden is an individual with a proven commitment to progressive issues and to speaking his mind about the values he holds dear," Alexander said. "His foreign policy experience is well-informed, principled, and visionary. His long-time leadership as a key member of the Judiciary Committee has been equally inspirational."

Obama backer Michael Passante, right, and North Ward Democratic leader Steve Adubato, who supported Clinton in the primary.: Politicker photo

WEST ORANGE - A group of onetime Hillary Clinton fundraisers today committed to raising dollars for Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign, according to a release issued by Richard McGrath, spokesman of the Democratic State Committee.

"Democrats in New Jersey are unifying behind Barack Obama in every way under the leadership of Governor Corzine," said party chairman Joe Cryan. "We are supporting him with financial resources, political organization and grass roots activism. We are one party behind one candidate. This commitment from these top fundraisers is another big step towards victory in November."

Those who breakfasted with Gov. Jon Corzine and Cryan at Pal’s Cabin included Obama State Director Tricia Mueller, and Obama Policy Director Mark Alexander. Joining them were about ten former Clinton backers, each of whom pledged to raise $10,000 or more within the next few days, said Cryan.