Obama's N.J. visit

President Barack Obama's two New Jersey appearances in support of Gov. Jon Corzine today will remind voters that the two share a partisan affiliation in a state where there are 700,000 more Democrats than Republicans.  In a race that is too close to call - and with Republican Christopher Christie holding a commanding lead among the state's 2.4 million unaffiliated voters, Corzine must win his base vote big to win a second term.  That's why Obama has been here twice in recent weeks, along with Bill Clinton and Joseph Biden.

As expected, Obama drew big crowds in North and South Jersey.  The event at the Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden may have been ill-timed: the Walt Whitman Bridge and several major roadways were shut down around the same time New Jerseyans were traveling to Philadelphia for the Giants/Eagles game. 

A presidential visit caps a great month for the Prudential Center, which appears to have a deal to bring the Nets to Newark and a peace accord with the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority.  Obama's route from Newark Liberty Airport to downtown did not appear to inconvenience other parts of the state, and Penn Station was packed on a Sunday - a good sign for Mayor Cory Booker.

U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson (R-South Carolina), who accused Obama of being a liar during a joint session of Congress earlier this year, urged support for Christie during a visit to Morristown today.  Wilson was in as a guest of the Tea Party, an anti-tax group.

Politico reported tonight that former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin disputed claims by independent gubernatorial candidate Christopher Daggett that she tried to pressure him out of the race.