It's not often that one gets proof that a supposedly hare-brained supposition -- so wild, it was seen by some as evidence of an obsession bordering on paranoia -- actually was taking place.
It is rarer still when one gets the proof just a few months after the supposition was first made public.
So consider me delighted to point you in the direction of this blockbuster piece by the Newark Star-Ledger's Josh Margolin, which reveals for the first time that, in fact, the Obama White House was so concerned over the summer about New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine's faltering campaign that senior Obama strategists considered dumping Corzine and replacing him with Senate President/former Acting Governor Dick Codey -- as I suggested they might, way back on July 9.
Democrats went to some length in their consideration of options -- at one point, according to Margolin, they commissioned a poll testing possible replacements against GOP nominee Chris Christie.
But the poll showed that neither U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone nor Newark Mayor Cory Booker fared any better against Christie than did Corzine, according to Margolin's account; only Codey made the race competitive -- in fact, according to Codey, the poll showed him leading Christie by double digits.
The problem with such a survey, of course, is that neither Booker nor Pallone had ever run for a statewide office before -- and, therefore, neither one should have been expected to have statewide name identification.
One month as the Democratic nominee for Governor would have changed that. And, given that the only reason the race was competitive was Corzine's extraordinarily high personal unfavorable rating, either Booker or Pallone -- or Codey -- could have been a competitive candidate against Christie.
Republicans can thank Corzine's hubris -- and his checkbook -- for keeping him in the race, and giving them an opportunity to run against a damaged incumbent in an anti-incumbent year.
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Comments
Codey had his chance four years ago.
Corzine campaigned and won. We Democrats are willing to abide by the will of the people as expressed in open and legal elections.
Many articles have been written about Corzine's coldness, his hubris and his money. These are gratuitous attacks by people who have never put themselves forward to face the voters or to take responsibility for the people's welfare.
Jon Corzine has a good record as Governor of New Jersey. There are many, many accomplishments for him to take pride in.
There is absolutely no shame in being counted among his supporters.
The meltdown of the financial industry had ramifications in New Jersey that dwarfed those experienced since the Great Depression.
As Governor, Christie will find himself overwhelmed by the complexity and ubiquity of this crisis.
After 2013 the GOP will be disgraced and discredited as a politcal party even beyond its low stature in New England and New York.
Posted by: Robert Chapman
| November 7, 2009 12:51 PM
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