House

After losing two Democratic statewide primaries, U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D-Haddon Heights) seems to have settled into a career path as a congressional insider. He has forged a close political alliance with the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, and has emerged as a key congressional insider.  Andrews was designated by the Democratic leadership as a point man on the health care bill that passed Saturday night; he got national television exposure, and a front page New York Times photo. 

One of the more aggressive critics of Gov.-elect Chris Christie early in the campaign, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-Paterson) today said he plans to reach out to Christie and establish working relations with him for the sake of New Jersey.

"I wish Chris Christie well," said Pascrell. "It's going to be a tough four years overcoming the last eight years of national inaction."

The former mayor of Paterson and veteran 8th District congressman last year mused on a potential bid for the governship in the event that Corzine did not seek re-election. 

Asked if he intends to run for governor in 2013, Pascrell said, "No, it's too early to talk about that now."

Pascrell said he has not talked to defeated Gov. Jon Corzine since the governor's loss to Christie on Tuesday.

"The governor was unable to overcome some unfavorable perceptions many voters had of him," said the congressman. "Most of the Democrats running for (the legislature) didn't run with the governor, and I think it's clear he was also unable to overcome that. He was not able to articulate what he accomplished. This governor accomplished a lot of things. The state budget is the same as it was four years ago. He was trying to do his part with the caps." 

Jon Corzine's campaign still won't confirm it, but U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman (D-Fair Lawn) says Obama will be back in New Jersey one more time.

"I think Obama's presence will help in New Jersey significantly.  He's coming back to New Jersey as well," said Rothman, who would only put the date as "before the election."

Since he left Congress at the beginning of this year, Michael Ferguson has cut the balance of his old campaign account in half.  He started the year with $113,446 cash on hand, and had $54,911 in the bank as of the end of September.  Now a Washington lobbyist, Ferguson has contributed $20,000 to campaign accounts and political action committees connected to some former House colleagues.

Ferguson gave $4,000 last May to Joe Wilson, the South Carolina Congressman who later drew national attention when he called the President a liar during a joint session of Congress.  He also gave $5,000 to House Minority Whip Eric Cantor's PAC, and $4,000 to former House Minority Whip Roy Blunt, who is running for an open U.S. Senate seat in Missouri.  Ferguson also contributed to a Senator from North Carolina (Richard Burr, a former House colleague), and Congressmen from Kansas, California, Nebraska, and Michigan.

In New Jersey, Ferguson used his campaign account to contribute $3,400 to Republican gubernatorial candidate Christopher Christie.  That is Ferguson's lone contribution from his campaign to local GOP candidates.

New Jersey's off-year elections and the competitive gubernatorial contest have stalled the start of the 2010 cycle.  That's great news for U.S. Rep. John Adler (D-Cherry Hill), who still has no Republican opponent in a district that sent a Republican to Congress for 124 consecutive years until Adler won it with 52% in 2008.  Days after Adler won the seat last year, former major league baseball star Al Leiter said he would not run.  And last May, a millionaire self-funder the GOP was recruiting, Moorestown investor John Culbertson, said he would not run.

Adler's fundraising prowess is likely to scare away top tier challengers, like State Sen. Diane Allen (R-Edgewater Park), who some insiders would have won the seat last year if a local GOP feud hadn't kept her out of the race.  Adler raised $404,406 over the last three months and has amassed a $1,193,061 war chest; he raised more money than any other freshman Congressman. Unless there is a Republican Governor who can help level the financial playing field, it's possible that this seat won't be seriously contested.

Gubernatorial Debate

Jon Corzine, Chris Christie and Chris Daggett debate at William Paterson University in Trenton.  Moderated by My9 News Anchor Harry Martin with   panelists Alfred Doblin, editorial page editor and columnist for The Record; Channel 29 anchorman Thomas Drayton; and former CNN correspondent Joann Lee, a professor at William Paterson Universiy.

Airs: Streaming live on Foxnews.com and My9TV.com; 2PM on Saturday on WTXF-TV Channel 29 in Philadelphia; 12pm Sunday on WWOR-TV Channel 9 in North Jersey.

The Tonight Show

Newark Mayor Cory Booker's feud with host Conan O'Brien comes to a head tonight, with Booker slated to appear on the show.

Airs: Tonight at 11:30 on NBC.

On the Record

Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie sits down for a one-on-one interview with Michael Aron.

Airs: Sunday at 9am and 11am, Monday at 6:30am

Reporters Roundtable with Michael Aron

The Star-Ledger’s Claire Heininger, The Press of Atlantic City’s Derek Harper, The AP’s Angela Delli Santi and yours truly, Matt Friedman of PolitickerNJ.com, talk about Chris Christie’s travel expenses, Jon Corzine’s staff jobs memo, and the Republican Governors Association’s hit on Chris Daggett.  

Airs: Tonight at 7:00, Sunday at 10am

One on One with Steve Adubato

Adubato hosts independent gubernatorial candidate Chris Daggett, Center for Civic Responsibility founder Harry Pozycki and Derek DeLia, an associate research professor at the  Center for State Health Policy at Rutgers University.

Airs:  Saturday at 10am on Thirteen/WNET.

On the Line: Decision 2009

Steve Adubato hosts segments with all three major gubernatorial candidates.

Airs: Saturday and Sunday at 9am on FiOS 1.

Power & Politics

Republican State Chairman/Assemblyman Jay Webber (R-Morris Plains) on Chris Christie; Steve Lonegan on his opposition to the open space ballot question; Bergen County Executive Dennis McNerney and Republican Bergen County Freeholder candidate Rob Hermansen debate about the importance of the county to the gov's race; former Democratic gubernatorial candidzate Mike Murphy and Christie campaign senior advisor Steve Some talk about the race for governors.  Hosted by Laura Jones and Jim McQueeney.

Airs: Saturday and Sunday at 10am and 3pm on News 12 New Jersey

America's News with Shannon Bream

U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-Long Branch) talks about the race for governor and health care reform.

Airs: Sunday at 1pm on Fox News

U.S. Rep. Steven Rothman's e-mail to PolitickerN.com:

U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman says he is running for re-election. .

U.S. Rep. Steven Rothman (D-Fair Lawn) says he will run for re-election to an eighth term in 2010, "and for many years more." 

Rothman made his announcement hours after PolitickerNJ.com's The Inside Edge speculated that weak third quarter fundraising numbers could be a sign that the congressman was ready to retire.  Rothman made it clear he's not going anywhere.

"I wonder who gave out the creative writing assignment to suggest that I was retiring from Congress." Rothman wrote PolitickerNJ.com.  After all, I love helping my constituents, bringing an unprecedented amount of federal dollars back to many regions in New Jersey (as our only Democratic Appropriations Committee member); and working with my House colleagues and the Obama White House in matters of our national security and foreign affairs."

"My health and that of my family is good, knock wood, and I'm still able to make my mortgage payments.  And even after the ten Town Hall Meetings on Health Care I did in New Jersey in August--the most, by far of any of my Congressional colleagues--my approval rating in my district hovers between 68-70%," Rothman said.  "But above all else, I am having some of the most satisfying time as a public official ever."

Rothman says he does not obsess about running for the United States Senate. 

"While I did turn 57-years-old this week, let's remember that our longest-serving lion in the Senate, Frank Lautenberg  -- who we wish to serve till he's at least 120 --  didn't get to the Senate till he was 58 years old," Rothman said.  "As for dreams of Senate sugarplums dancing in my head, well, I remain committed to the notion that ‘what is meant to be will be'."

If U.S. Rep. Steven Rothman (D-Fair Lawn) decides not to seek re-election next year, possible candidates for his seat include: State Sens. Robert Gordon (D-Fair Lawn) and Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge), retiring Englewood Mayor Michael Wildes, Assemblyman Gordon Johnson (D-Englewood), Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Englewood), and Bergen County Freeholder Bernadette McPherson.

If State Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck) loses her bid for Lt. Governor, she could emerge as a strong candidate for Congress.  If Weinberg wins, Huttle is the favorite to take her State Senate seat.  Sarlo, the Senate Judiciary Chairman, has not expressed a huge desire to go to Congress; he is a possible candidate for Senate Majority Leader next year, or to chair the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee. 

Wildes, who is not seeking re-election after two terms as mayor, has long been interested in Rothman's congressional seat.  A strong fundraiser, he has $642,983 sitting in a federal campaign account, just in case.

Editor's Note: Rothman is expected to make it clear today that he will run for re-election to an eighth term in 2010.

Is U.S. Rep. Steven Rothman (D-Fair Lawn) running for re-election in 2010?  The seven-term Bergen County Democrat has raised an anemic $25,212 over the last three months - his worst fundraising quarter in fourteen years - a point that will lead to speculation that he won't seek re-election next year. 

Weak fundraising is typically an indication that an incumbent is going to retire.  Rothman, the only New Jersey Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, is well-positioned to raise money. Indeed, he has been a fairly prolific fundraiser since he went to Congress in 1996. 

At age 57, and not likely the first choice of Democrats if a U.S. Senate seat were to open up, Rothman might be considering other options.  Another Democrat who entered Congress with Rothman in 1996, U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.), resigned this week to run the Center for Middle East Peace and Economic Cooperation.  Wexler had also mulled U.S. Senate runs in Florida.

Rothman could be looking at an Obama administration appointment, or another challenge in the non-profit arena.  He probably doesn't need the money, although his family real estate investments have likely taken a hit in a bad economy.

Rothman has a safe Democratic district - he won re-election in 2008 with 70% of the vote - and his $1.75 million war chest is more than adequate to carry him through next year.  But Rothman might also be looking at the uncertainties of congressional redistricting after the next census, when New Jersey might face losing a House seat.