Posted by Many of them report now that Mr. Corzine, who will need to line up support even if he does have a personal fortune to spend on the race, is not asking them for anything. on January 03, 2005 at 06:20:52:

In Bare-Knuckles Hudson, A Strange Silence

On Politics

New York Times
Sunday, January 2, 2004
New Jersey Section

By Laura Mansnerus

HOBOKEN
No matter how smooth and 21st century New Jersey politics gets, Hudson County does not. The locals here are constantly scheming in the open, smacking each other, taking and changing sides with passion.

It seems odd, then, that the race for governor has left so many so silent. The only announced candidate for the Democratic nomination, United States Senator Jon S. Corzine, is Hudson's own, a man who has made almost no enemies. But he has not set the place on fire either.

Mr. Corzine's putative competition, acting Gov. Richard J. Codey, has not even announced his intentions, and may bow out, but his home county politicians in Essex organized a noisy rally of support for him in Newark last month. The Corzine rally in Hudson County has not been scheduled yet.

Hudson County is critical to a primary victory, and the Democratic organization's endorsement often delivers 25,000 votes. A candidate from Hudson County should expect a lot more.
But the Hudson County Democrats are stuck. "Hudson County is in neutral right now," one Democratic consultant said, "and I don't expect we'll be popping the clutch any time soon."
Those who might ordinarily be whispering on Mr. Corzine's behalf are on an extended holiday break. State Senator Bernard F. Kenny Jr., the county Democratic chairman in a county where that means a great deal, did not return several telephone calls last week.

Mr. Corzine has never been much of a public face here, but he does step out often from his Hoboken apartment for breakfast or drinks with Hudson County politicians. Many of them report now that Mr. Corzine, who will need to line up support even if he does have a personal fortune to spend on the race, is not asking them for anything.

To begin, they are in the almost unbelievable predicament of having two candidates that they like and respect, and they don't have to lie when they say so.

But leaving aside affection and respect, for what they are worth, the local powers have plenty to lose if they choose the wrong man. Mr. Codey and Mr. Corzine, on the other hand, are each looking toward fine political futures whether or not they run for governor, futures in which they can reward and punish.

Some people say Mr. Codey does not intend to run but, by promising an announcement after the State of the State address, scheduled for Jan. 11, can provide everyone a few weeks of suspense and entertainment. He is enjoying the ride, this school of thought says, seducing the weak and yanking the chains of the strong, generally for fun.

One Democratic fund-raiser - perhaps like anyone else who thinks much about actual campaigns - said that "at the end of the day, when somebody who's worth half a billion dollars stands up and says, 'Hi, I want to be governor and I want to self-finance,' there's nothing else to say."
Meanwhile, the fund-raiser said, Mr. Codey's prospects might be hampered by the pay-to-play restrictions on contributions that Gov. James E. McGreevey imposed by executive order and that Mr. Codey embraced. (Response from another consultant: "Trouble raising money? The sitting governor? What? Are you nuts?")

When does Jon Corzine get his noisy rally?
For the next few weeks, then, Mr. Corzine can be gracious by not nagging anyone during the holidays and wait for Mr. Codey's announcement. If Mr. Codey does not run, Mr. Corzine can start a generous-spirited primary campaign against no one.

If Mr. Codey does run, the conflict-averse Mr. Corzine will have to run not only against the acting governor but probably against United States Representative Robert E. Andrews, who is likely to join the race if Mr. Codey does, as well.

Meanwhile, Mr. Codey is making friends in Hudson County. He has nominated Mr. Kenny's law partner Barry P. Sarkisian for a Superior Court judgeship. He sponsored State Senator Joseph Doria, also the mayor of Bayonne, for the presidency of Ramapo College. And Mr. Codey's supporters, who are talking up converts real or imagined, say there are Hudson County mayors who have confided their preference for him - even though the only mayor who has made a commitment, Albio Sires of West New York, is a Corzine backer.

What can a local guy say? Louis Manzo, for one, a sought-after Assemblyman from Jersey City, could not have been more delicate. The endorsements will come after the formal declarations of either or both men, he said. He added: "What these guys are doing now is collecting all their chips for a talk two or three months from now. It will be a very interesting conversation these two gentlemen are going to have."

- - -

Laura Mansnerus reports from Trenton for The New York Times.

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: In Bare-Knuckles Hudson, A Strange Silence

: On Politics

: New York Times
: Sunday, January 2, 2004
: New Jersey Section

: By Laura Mansnerus

: HOBOKEN
: No matter how smooth and 21st century New Jersey politics gets, Hudson County does not. The locals here are constantly scheming in the open, smacking each other, taking and changing sides with passion.

: It seems odd, then, that the race for governor has left so many so silent. The only announced candidate for the Democratic nomination, United States Senator Jon S. Corzine, is Hudson's own, a man who has made almost no enemies. But he has not set the place on fire either.

: Mr. Corzine's putative competition, acting Gov. Richard J. Codey, has not even announced his intentions, and may bow out, but his home county politicians in Essex organized a noisy rally of support for him in Newark last month. The Corzine rally in Hudson County has not been scheduled yet.

: Hudson County is critical to a primary victory, and the Democratic organization's endorsement often delivers 25,000 votes. A candidate from Hudson County should expect a lot more.
: But the Hudson County Democrats are stuck. "Hudson County is in neutral right now," one Democratic consultant said, "and I don't expect we'll be popping the clutch any time soon."
: Those who might ordinarily be whispering on Mr. Corzine's behalf are on an extended holiday break. State Senator Bernard F. Kenny Jr., the county Democratic chairman in a county where that means a great deal, did not return several telephone calls last week.

: Mr. Corzine has never been much of a public face here, but he does step out often from his Hoboken apartment for breakfast or drinks with Hudson County politicians. Many of them report now that Mr. Corzine, who will need to line up support even if he does have a personal fortune to spend on the race, is not asking them for anything.

: To begin, they are in the almost unbelievable predicament of having two candidates that they like and respect, and they don't have to lie when they say so.

: But leaving aside affection and respect, for what they are worth, the local powers have plenty to lose if they choose the wrong man. Mr. Codey and Mr. Corzine, on the other hand, are each looking toward fine political futures whether or not they run for governor, futures in which they can reward and punish.

: Some people say Mr. Codey does not intend to run but, by promising an announcement after the State of the State address, scheduled for Jan. 11, can provide everyone a few weeks of suspense and entertainment. He is enjoying the ride, this school of thought says, seducing the weak and yanking the chains of the strong, generally for fun.

: One Democratic fund-raiser - perhaps like anyone else who thinks much about actual campaigns - said that "at the end of the day, when somebody who's worth half a billion dollars stands up and says, 'Hi, I want to be governor and I want to self-finance,' there's nothing else to say."
: Meanwhile, the fund-raiser said, Mr. Codey's prospects might be hampered by the pay-to-play restrictions on contributions that Gov. James E. McGreevey imposed by executive order and that Mr. Codey embraced. (Response from another consultant: "Trouble raising money? The sitting governor? What? Are you nuts?")

: When does Jon Corzine get his noisy rally?
: For the next few weeks, then, Mr. Corzine can be gracious by not nagging anyone during the holidays and wait for Mr. Codey's announcement. If Mr. Codey does not run, Mr. Corzine can start a generous-spirited primary campaign against no one.

: If Mr. Codey does run, the conflict-averse Mr. Corzine will have to run not only against the acting governor but probably against United States Representative Robert E. Andrews, who is likely to join the race if Mr. Codey does, as well.

: Meanwhile, Mr. Codey is making friends in Hudson County. He has nominated Mr. Kenny's law partner Barry P. Sarkisian for a Superior Court judgeship. He sponsored State Senator Joseph Doria, also the mayor of Bayonne, for the presidency of Ramapo College. And Mr. Codey's supporters, who are talking up converts real or imagined, say there are Hudson County mayors who have confided their preference for him - even though the only mayor who has made a commitment, Albio Sires of West New York, is a Corzine backer.

: What can a local guy say? Louis Manzo, for one, a sought-after Assemblyman from Jersey City, could not have been more delicate. The endorsements will come after the formal declarations of either or both men, he said. He added: "What these guys are doing now is collecting all their chips for a talk two or three months from now. It will be a very interesting conversation these two gentlemen are going to have."

: - - -

: Laura Mansnerus reports from Trenton for The New York Times.


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