July 31, 2008 - 8:07am
News

Corzine could be auditioning L.G. candidates

Is Jon Corzine following the Barack Obama model and auditioning candidates for Lieutenant Governor by taking a road trip?  The Governor, who says he’ll seek re-election next year, is leaving today for Fort Bliss in Texas, where he’ll lead a bi-partisan delegation to visit with New Jersey National Guard troops.  Four of the five Democrats joining him have been mentioned as possible candidates for Lt. Governor: Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney, Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman, and State Sen. Teresa Ruiz.   

There’s even a Chuck Hagel-type on the trip: former Republican Congressman Bob Franks, who nearly beat Corzine in the 2000 U.S. Senate race but has now become a close friend and sometime policy advisor.

Also on the trip: Assembly Veteran and Military Affairs Committee Chairman Jack Conners, and three Republicans – Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean, Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce, and State Sen. Bill Baroni, the Chairman of John McCain’s New Jersey presidential campaign.

Wally Edge can be reached via email at politicsnj@aol.com.