Will Burlington GOP leaders put the kabosh on Allen for LG?

One major obstacle for Diane Allen as a potential candidate for Lieutenant Governor is the objection of Burlington County Republican leaders who have been feuding with the popular South Jersey State Senator from the last two years.  Allen, a former TV anchorwoman has proven herself as a strong vote-getter in the suburban Philadelphia region, winning five successive general elections in a Democratic-leaning district.

Allen nearly entered the race for Congress in 2008 after Jim Saxton announced his retirement, but withdrew when it became apparent that her home county organization would not support her.  Some pundits think that Allen would have kept the seat in Republican hands against Democrat John Adler, who won the seat 52%-48% against the lesser known Christopher Myers. The same pundits say that Allen’s presence on the ballot might have prevented Republicans from losing two Freeholder seats and the County Clerk’s office.

Republicans view Allen as a powerful challenger to Adler next year, but she is again unlikely to run without the full support of the Burlington GOP.

If Christopher Christie is the Republican nominee, sources suggest that he will consider Allen because of the votes she could potentially deliver to the GOP slate in South Jersey.  But Christie would have to lean on GOP leaders Bill Layton and Glenn Paulsen for support.

There are benefits to Layton and Paulsen if Allen runs for Lt. Governor.  A strong showing by a Christie/Allen ticket would help Republicans maintain control of the Burlington County Board of Freeholders this year.  Two incumbent GOP Freeholders are retiring, and Democrats need to win one seat to take control.  And if Allen were to win, the local GOP leadership would get to fill her State Senate seat – possibly paving the way for former Freeholder Aubrey Fenton to become the first African American Republican to serve in the New Jersey Senate.

A recent Quinnipiac University poll shows Gov. Jon Corzine trailing Christie by five points, 42%-37% in a region defined as Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties.  In 2005, Corzine beat Republican Douglas Forrester in this part of the state by 49,825 votes, a 56%-44% margin, and lost only in Cape May County.

In South Jersey, Corzine has a favorable/unfavorable rating of 43%-43%, and an upside-down approval rating of 42%-44%.  Nearly half the voters (47%) say he does not deserve to be re-elected, and 70% say they are dissatisfied with the direction New Jersey is headed. 

Theodore Roosevelt was offered the Republican nomination for Vice President in 1900 largely because U.S. Senator Thomas Platt, New York’s Republican Party boss, wanted to get rid of him as Governor of New York.  Of course, Platt’s plan went awry a year later when Roosevelt became President following the assassination of William McKinley.