Richard McClellan

State Democratic Party Chairman Joseph Cryan address the crowd at Obama HQ on Saturday.: Politicker photo

WEST WINDSOR - The sense here on Saturday is the presidential race is no longer deadlocked nationally.

At this moment.

So when State Democratic Chairman Joseph Cryan asks the crowd of 260 Obama canvassers to demonstrate an upbeat mood, they respond with full-throated gusto in the packed headquarters of Obama’s campaign headquarters.

No one committed to a candidate in this cycle lets pass an opportunity to celebrate the good fortune of his or her presidential aspirant, be he Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) or Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).

To hear the media tell the story, the fortunes appear too transient.

If this event occurred a week ago, the mood would have been borderline gloomy. But today Washington is mulling a $700 billion bail-out package for a flat-lining Wall Street and Sen. John McCain - longtime champion of deregulation in the private sector - also lugs a five-day old burden of suggesting that America’s economy is fundamentally sound.

PRINCETON - Gov. Jon Corzine's Tuesday night shout-out to 4thJosh Zeitz Congressional District candidate Josh Zetiz was the governor's second public hurrah in as many weeks for the underdog Democrat challenging U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-4). 

Corzine spearheaded a Zeitz fund-raising event at a Trenton restaurant last week, and plugged the professor's candidacy at his governor's gala for the State Democratic Committee last night.

Zeitz's allies in Mercer County took notice.

Mercer County Democratic Chairman Richard McClellan, who had announced earlier this year that he would step down from his party post, has decided to seek re-election this June, according to Democratic sources. 

Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes, left, and Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer, served as delegates at the party's convention. 

TRENTON - At their standing room only convention in the Masonic Temple on Saturday, Mercer County Democrats selected two full-term candidates for their county freeholder slate in November, and a third to fill the unexpired term of Freeholder Elizabeth Muio. 

The winners were incumbent Freeholder Lucy Walter of Ewing and banker John Cimino of Hamilton for the three-year term seats, and Dan Benson of Hamilton for the unexpired term.

Richard McClellan, who said earlier this month that he would step down as the Mercer County Democratic Chairman, will now remain in office through the county convention next month -- at the request of County Executive Brian Hughes and other local officials.

Next month, two major Democratic county strongholds will see important internal party contests.

Mercer County is set to see a significant turnover during its March 15th county committee convention. Its Democratic Chairman, Richard McClellan, plans to step down shortly. Meanwhile, Freeholder Elizabeth Muoio will resign on March 1st, giving a number of Democratic hopefuls a chance to take over her seat. Failing to win Muoio’s seat, some of those candidates may challenge Democratic incumbents Tony Mack and Lucy Walter, whose terms expire this year.

In neighboring Middlesex County, Freeholder John Pulomena has resigned so that the board can appoint him to a position as county administrator, while Freeholder Camille Fernicola has said that she will not seek another term.

Mercer County Dem Chair Richard McClellanMercer County Democratic Party Chairman Richard McClellan announced this week that he is stepping down as chair of the party, and has already informed State Party Joseph Cryan, according to Democratic Party sources. 

Contacted for a comment, Cryan said he is not aware of the specific date for McClellan's departure.

Mercer County Democratic Chairman Richard McClellan issued a one-word response to suggestions that Seema Singh, who is the target of a state ethics investigation, drop her bid for State Senator in the 14th district:  

"Nuts," McClellan said. 

There are reports from Mercer County that Richard McClellan will step down as the Democratic County Chairman. One possible replacement, reportedly at the suggestion of County Executive Brian Hughes, is attorney Paul Anzano. McClellan's full-time job is at Hamilton Township Hall, where he works for Mayor Glen Gilmore.

One of the most popular themes in political campaigns of the early 21st century is government reform and there has been no shortage of candidates willing to tout their reform agendas in an effort to win votes. Earlier this cycle, Doug Forrester held a large orange broom during his Conga Line of Corruption ad, and Jon Corzine took on Joe Ferriero in a Special Election Convention for State Senate in Bergen County. That's why it's noteworthy to recognize the efforts of one candidate who doesn't seem to pander to the pro-reform newspapers: Paula Sollami Covello, the Democratic nominee for Mercer County Clerk. Covello had a meeting with the editorial board of The Trenton Times this week and so there would be no confusion as to her independence from party bosses, she brought Mercer County Democratic Chairman Richard McClellan with her.

Despite her best efforts, Covello might still oust two-term GOP incumbent Catherine DiCostanzo in predominately Democratic Mercer County. The party organization announced today that they will pay to air a new Covello TV ad over 1,200 times between now and election day. This is the same ad that got Covello into trouble last week when she was caught parking in a handicapped space after arriving late for the filming.