Would Cory Booker have an easier time with Lt. Governor '09 than Mayor '10?
By Wally EdgeSome Democratic insiders suggest that the hyper local political problems that seem to be plaguing Newark Mayor Cory Booker might help the nationally prominent rising star more interested in running for Lieutenant Governor in 2009. Booker, Democrats say, would make a very attractive running mate for Jon Corzine, but could have trouble winning re-election to a second term as Mayor in 2010.
New Jersey will elect a Lt. Governor for the first time next year; the new law provides for gubernatorial candidates to pick their running mates after the primary election. The conventional wisdom is that Corzine will not pick a white male for the post, with Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman and state Transportation Commissioner Kris Kolluri receiving considerable mention in recent days as an LG candidate.
Booker is said to have eschewed talk of higher office before – there was some discussion of Corzine appointing him to the U.S. Senate after the 2005 election -- six months before he won election as Mayor with 75% of the vote. But Booker has lost some of his luster, especially as several City Councilmen and party leaders have broken away from him. While he might be the favorite to win re-election in two years, he is not safe at this time.
By running for Lt. Governor, Booker could avoid the struggles of Newark insider politics -- and if he wins, he could position himself as a leading candidate for Governor in 2013, when Corzine would be term-limited.
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not a great idea
its not such a great gig if Corzne goes down in flames in '09.
Booker would have to turn around and run for re-election as Mayor in '10, which would be difficult after attempting to jump ship.
And Wally...why no mention of Andews? you just floated his name a few days ago, and now you don't even mention him b/c he's a white male. Andrews is a minority (South Jersey) of sorts.
Andrews
Wally knows that to float that rumor only to have Andrews fail to secure it-would simply be another statewide loss for his favorite CC politician. Booker should run in NEwark again-Newark needs him
No Newark Mayor
Is going to help Corzine win re-election.
The addition of Booker would seal his fate.
Booker needs to run for federal office where he can get out of the swamp of Newark politics.
He should run for Payne's seat in exchange for endorsing Payne's son to succeed him.
Vote Column - All the way!
Yes Payne should go
he stood with Clinton when the rest of his district stood with Barack. He's never mentioned inthe same hemisphere as say a Charlie Rangel. Plus he doesn't even like the states much, he's never here. Get rid of him!
Dems is on to something...
I think Booker should work his way up. Maybe a Senate seat or a Congress seat should be next for him.
Like Dems said he should take Payne's seat and then run Payne Jr. for Mayor. Rep. Payne should be nearing retirement by now...
Would be interesting to see how Booker fares against Rice for his Senate seat, but I Rice is too hard to beat at the moment.
On a Side note: I hope the Lt. Gov position is not a waste and is looked at as a more important and high rank position. There for Transportation Commissioner Kris Kolluri, should not be considered cause it'll bring the position credibility down.