In the midst of more pressing political developments, a small snippet in a Reuters article caught my attention today; among the names mentioned as potential candidates for Treasury Secretary in an Obama administration, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine's name stuck out. As we all know, Corzine has years of expertise in the financial world, having led Goldman Sachs before embarking upon his political career, first as a U.S. Senator, and now as Governor. Frankly, I think he'd be an excellent Treasury Secretary . . . which opens up a slew of possibilities and questions in the horserace of New Jersey politics.
If Corzine ascends to the Cabinet, State Senate President Richard Codey will take over as Acting Governor for the fourth time (he took over when Christine Todd Whitman became the head of the EPA during Bush's first term, when James McGreevey stepped down amidst scandal in 2004, and when Corzine was hospitalized after a severe car accident last year). Codey is probably the most popular politician in the state; we Jerseyfolk are known to badmouth our politicians and rate them poorly, even as we keep re-electing them, but Dick Codey stands out as the one pol with favorable ratings. I would venture a guess that an overwhelming majority of voters in the state would be glad to actually elect him as Governor, after he would hypothetically serve out the remainder of Corzine's term.
And, frankly, that's a good thing, what with Chris Christie waiting in the wings on the GOP side, ready to take down a less popular Democratic candidate in the gubernatorial race. Of course, Codey's name has also been floated out as a possible Senate candidate down the road, if, for example, Lautenberg decides that this coming term will be his last before retiring. With Codey safely in the Governor's seat, the door would be wide open for such progressives as Congressmen Rush Holt and Frank Pallone, and perhaps even Newark Mayor Cory Booker. Any one of them could keep the Senate seat safely in Democratic hands (and probably fend off the requisite primary challenge from Rob Andrews). All of them are young, and could conceivably hold the seat for many years.
What I just outlined was the best case scenario: Treasury Secretary Corzine, Governor Codey, and, eventually, Senator Holt, Pallone, or Booker. Will the stars align as such? Discuss away!
mostly beacuse Dick Codey rocks.
I would be very surprised if Timothy Geithner isn’t the next Treasury Secretary though.
I don’t live in NJ anymore (but still registered to vote there), but whenever I go back I hear lots of dissatisfaction with Corzine.
Hearing the words “Senator” next to “Holt” releases the happy chemicals in my brain. Holt is a true progressive in every sense of the word. He’s fought for verified voting and is an outspoken leader for science and education.
I don’t know much about Pallone’s record, but I remember when he used to be our Congressman (before a redistricting) he went above and beyond to help my parents with some immigration problems they had. My family likes that guy very much.
I’m not meaning to down-play this article but I’ve been thinking that Corzine would run as for the Senate again.
Lautenberg gets re-elected, then declines next time around (2014 or sooner). Corzine would then step up again to be a senator, doing a similar song and dance as Lautenberg. Sounds plausible to me but what do I know.
The post-Whitman, pre-McGreevey acting governor was Donald DiFrancesco; back then, the GOP controlled the state senate.
Also, looking forward, in October 2009 New Jersey is finally going to create a permanent Lt. Governor position, as apparently they’ve gotten tired of the constant parade of interim governors. (Rumor has it that that’s what Rob Andrews has his eye on now, as it’s his best shot at getting his foot in the door in his Ahab-like quest for statewide office.) But if Corzine bails out in January 2009, the Lt. Gov. position still wouldn’t exist yet, so Captain Codey would get one last chance to ride again. (Don’t get me started on Lt. Governors… our Lt. Gov in Washington is probably the biggest waste of space on the entire state payroll. But that’s a whole ‘nother story.)
Gov. Codey certainly would have a nice ring to it, but would he run. He passed up a very winnable race in 2005 and declined the Menedez Senate Seat, which he would have been an absolute lock for.
If he won’t run and its an open seat, what about Gov. Booker. Booker seems like a real executive, not a legislator and he would be sort of wasted in the Senate. But Governor seems much more up his alley. Would he do it? He’s admirably committed to Newark and passed up the chance to take higher office before.
Congressman Pallone is a great progressive, a great environmentalist, and super down to earth guy. I’d be all for having him in the Senate.
I have been thinking for a while about what could happen if Corzine were to either retire or go to the Cabinet. It could lead to a very interesting race.
Dick Codey is actually my State Senator (for the 27th District), and is a very good guy. He is extremely low-key, and that is part of the reason he did not make a push to get appointed to the Senate in for the seat Menendez ultimately got. Had Codey decided to run in a primary against Menendez, he would have won handily, even though he probably would have been hugely outspent. Codey just did not want to go to Washington, and he really enjoyed being governor. He has also made indications he would have liked to stay on. Ironically, had Codey stayed in and run against Corzine in the primary, he would have won, even being outspent 20-to-1, and opposed by the party bosses. He dropped out early in the face of Corzine’s fortune because he, and no one else for that matter, realized how popular he would become during his turn as governor. His regular-guy, folksy style played very well residents disgusted with the politicians in the state.
Codey has several problems. First, he is not a terrific fundraiser, especially not in the same league as someone like Menendez. Second, he is not well liked by all of the county bosses in the state, particularly the ones in South Jersey and those aligned with powerful Camden boss George Norcross. They hate each other, and there was talk after South Jersey won three State Senate seats last year that Norcross would attempt to oust Codey as Senate President. In the end, that did not happen in part because Codey made Steve Sweeney (a South Jersey Senator) Majority Leader. Third, while Codey was extremely popular during his year at Drumthwacket, I would wager that his popularity has gone down a bit — it is certainly not at the same insane level. It is possible that Codey missed his best chance.
What does all of this mean? I think Codey would have a good shot to win, but he would encounter big problems and opposition from South Jersey.
Here is my hope: a titanic regional battle between Dick Codey and North Jersey and Rob Andrews and South Jersey. I think there is a good chance it could happen, as both men would want the job. Furthermore, I do not think the other Reps have their eyes on the governorship, with many always looking towards the Senate. Pallone chairs one of the most powerful subcommittees in the House (Energy and Commerce Health), Rothman is on Approps and is eying Lautenberg’s Senate seat in 2014, Pascrell and Payne are too old, and Sires is too green. Holt, quite honestly, I do not think he has near the chops to wage a campaign for governor in Jersey — he’s way too delicate. Finally, there is absolutely no way Cory Booker would run for it. He is way too dedicated to Newark right now. I hope a future run for governor or the Senate or even President is in the cards for Booker — one of my favorite leaders in the country — but not next year.
If we got a straight Codey-Andrews fight, I think Codey would win fairly easily. Andrews would have a lot of money behind him, but Codey would run just too strong in the North. If another North Jersey candidate like say Rothman were to enter the primary, that could hand the governor’s chair to Andrews, as he would have his solid South Jersey base. Still, under this scenario, should Corzine resign in January 2009, Codey would become governor for the rest of the year, and be the incumbent going into the fall. That would be tough to beat.
So, there are very interesting possibilities. If Codey were to run, I would consider strongly working for him. In the end, though, I see Corzine staying on, winning another term, and being a fairly poor governor for another four years.
Whatever his expertise or competence for Treasury is, there is no way he is going to be nominated for a cabinet post. The prospect of confirmation hearings rehashing all the Carla Katz stories would keep Obama from putting his name forward — it would invite public scrutiny and attacks that an incoming administration doesn’t need in Cabinet.
and it is a juicy political stew isn’t it?
but this seems like a bad idea for two reasons. 1) Corzine ran for Senator, then ran for Governor soon after and I think it looks bad to then leave that job early, too. 2) Too many weird elections in NJ. Torricelli dropped out and Lautenberg was inserted at the last minute. McGreevy resigned and was replaced by first Codey and then Corzine. Corzine left the senate and was replaced by Menendez.
Maybe NJ pols have NO shame (after all it’s the only state where most of the legislature also hold other local offices – a number are also Mayors of their towns), but I think they should be worried about the point where all this finagling looks like just too much.