Joe Biden

Sen. Joe Biden: Getty Images PhotoU.S. Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) made an exception today.

This was the first time in his 35 year Senate career that he has jumped into a Democratic primary. It wasn't even in his home state, but here in New Jersey, on behalf of incumbent Sen. Frank Lautenberg.

"I count Rob Andrews as my friend, and I've never been engaged in a primary before - in my home state or anywhere else," said Biden in a short press availability before a fundraiser in Union.

About 35 people attended the later event, paying anywhere from $500 to $2,300 for the privilege.

The following is an unofficial list of the Democratic candidates for president in the order in which they will appear - lines A through F - on the Feb. 5th primary ballots in 20 of New Jersey's 21 counties. Cumberland County's lineup was not available on Thursday.   

Atlantic: Edwards, Richardson, Clinton, Kucinich, Obama, Biden 

Bergen: Obama, Biden, Edwards, Clinton, Kucinich, Richardson 

Burlington: Obama, Edwards, Kucinich, Clinton, Richardson, Biden

After all the emails and phone calls back and forth regarding ballot drawing procedure, Essex County Clerk Chris Durkin said he couldn’t believe the way it turned out for the Democratic presidential candidates in Essex.

Earlier this year, Cumberland County Democratic Chairman Lou Magazzu found himself on a Washington-bound Amtrak train with U.S. Sen. Joe Biden.

The two already knew each other. Cumberland County sits just across the Delaware Bay from Biden’s home state of Delaware, and Biden had once come across to participate in a fundraiser for the county party.

During the ride, Biden asked Magazzu to consider supporting his candidacy for president.

“Then he said something to me that was very compelling,” said Magazzu, who’s also a freeholder. “He said ‘Lou, I understand you’re an elected official, and if the Governor and leadership go one way, I would never ask for a guy to undermine his position.' And I thought that was extraordinarily generous.”

The Barack Obama campaign made a statement Monday as the Democratic Party's tallies of signatures to get presidential candidates on the ballot in New Jersey showed Obama smothering the Hillary Clinton campaign, by almost 2,000 votes.