Democratic National Convention

DENVER -- United States Rep. Rob Andrews made it to the convention yesterday, and while there are clearly still some frayed relations between himself and members of the party who were loyal to incumbent Sen. Frank Lautenberg, he said he’s been received warmly.

“It’s really been very positive, very heartwarming, very good,” he said. “I feel very comfortable here.”

This morning he ducked out of the delegation’s breakfast during Sen. Dick Durbin’s (D-Illinois) address to pick up his credentials. There he ran into his recent campaign chairman, Michel Murphy.

Andrews has been the topic of much discussion among members of the New Jersey delegation. Despite the report that he’s negotiating for a job at Goldman Sachs, many say he’s still weighing returning to Congress. When asked today why people were still speculating about it, Andrews didn’t issue the blanket denials about returning to his house seat that he’s used since he entered the primary against Lautenberg.

“I’ll have something to say about that next week. This is a week to talk about the convention, not about me.”

Check back tomorrow morning to view my sketchpad for day three of the Democratic National Convention, and go to my national blog to follow convention coverage by cartoonists from around the country.

The fourth and final day of the Democratic National Convention will be called to order at 5:00 PM EST on Thursday, with a theme of "Change You Can Believe In."

The final day's events will take place at INVESCO Field at Mile High, where over 70,000 people are expected to attend.

Featured speakers will include Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter (D), former Vermont Gov. and Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean (D), New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D), U.S. Rep. and U.S. Senate candidate Mark Udall (D-Colo.), Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine (D), former Vice President Al Gore (D) and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D).

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), the Democratic presidential nominee, is scheduled to address the convention at 10 p.m. EST.

The full schedule is below.

Not surprisingly, the New Jersey delegation was thrilled with Joe Biden’s speech tonight.  But among three delegates, the most powerful moment was Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden’s introduction of his father. 

Beau Biden’s recounting of the family’s tragic narrative, when he and his brother survived a car wreck that killed his mother and infant sister, struck State Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck) particularly hard.

Listening to his son speak and seeing him come out, that was very powerful,” she said.  “You could see the son’s eyes welled up with tears, appropriately so.”

Edward M. Kennedy after defeating Jimmy Carter in the New York and Connecticut Democratic presidential primaries in March 1980: Getty Images Photo
DENVER -- Essex County Freeholder Pat Sebold supported Ted Kennedy for the Democratic nomination against Jimmy Carter in 1980 because she didn’t think Carter could beat Ronald Reagan.

She was right.

28 years later, Sebold supported Hillary Clinton. But she doesn’t have the same fears about Barack Obama as she did about Jimmy Carter.

“It’s a new era. One doesn’t have to do with the other. Times change,” she said. “Barack Obama is not going to lose.”

DENVER --If U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D-Haddon Heights) does go back on his pledge and returns to his House seat, don’t expect U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-Paterson) to welcome him back.

When asked whether he would “forgive and forget” Andrews’s primary challenge against Frank Lautenberg (D-Cliffside Park), Pascrell said “I look at it this way, who am I to forgive anyone?”

It’s the scenario that won’t die, no matter how many times Andrews denies it.  South Jersey sources here at the convention continue to speculate that there’s a slight chance Andrews will return to the seat – the ballot spot for which is being held by his wife.  Even the revelation that Andrews is in job negotiations with Goldman Sachs hasn’t extinguished the idea. 

Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein and Gov. Jon Corzine during the 2007 campaign.: Politicker photo
DENVER -- Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro) made the calculations and passed up a run for state Senate against Bill Baroni (R-Hamilton) in District 14 last year. But with all the buzz surrounding Baroni’s future if John McCain is elected president, there may be a short cut to the Senate for Greenstein.

Baroni, who’s leading the McCain campaign in New Jersey, would likely be a leading candidate for U.S. Attorney under the McCain Administration (providing current U.S. Attorney Chris Christie leaves the post). That would allow Greenstein, a popular incumbent, a legitimate shot at the higher chamber in a special election.

“I would like to move up to the Senate. Obviously if the people of my district would like me to,” she said.

GOP presidential candidate John McCain with Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, an Asian-Indian and possible VP pick: Getty Images Photo
DENVER -- Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula, the first Indian-American to serve in the state legislature, said that if McCain chooses Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal as his running mate, many of the state’s Indians would be tempted to vote for him.

But while New Jersey has one of the largest Indian populations in the country, Chivukula (D-FranklinTownship) said that there aren’t enough of them to change the statewide tide.

“I’m sure it will have some impact, yes. But Indian-Americans are not a large percentage, so it’s not going to be that much,” he said.

DENVER -- Essex County Executive Joe DiVencenzo may have said last week that he would consider running for Governor if Gov. Corzine left office early or decided not to seek reelection, but since arriving for the convention he’s been assured that won’t be the case.

“There’s no question Jon is going to be running for reelection. He’s been working this delegation very, very well.   He assured me that he’s going to be our candidate whether Obama wins our not.  He’s not interested in going to Washington,” said DiVincenzo.