MyDD :: NJ Voters: Corzine Free To Pick A Successor

NJ Voters: Corzine Free To Pick A Successor

by Scott Shields, Mon Jul 25, 2005 at 01:45:25 PM EST

One of the bonuses of the New Jersey gubernatorial race being held in 2005 is that, if Jon Corzine wins, the person he picks to replace him in the Senate instantly gains incumbent status for the 2006 race for that seat. If Corzine loses -- an outcome that looks more and more unlikely -- he keeps his Senate seat and his incumbency.

This weekend my father -- who's relatively apolitical, but considers himself a Republican -- floated a bit of a trial balloon. If Corzine gets elected, isn't it unfair that he should be able to name is own successor? Shouldn't he step down from the Senate now and demand a special election for his seat? After we discussed it for a minute, he agreed that it was pretty dumb. But he's a pretty reasonable guy. I can't say the same for some others who might entertain the same thought.

I considered the possibility that this could wind up being a GOP mantra as we head into this November's election. Corzine's numbers continue to rise and Forrester continues to sputter, so it seems at least somewhat possible that the GOP would try to spin it as unfair that Corzine will get to name his own successor. After all, the GOP's 2000 campaign against Corzine revolved almost entirely around the claim that it was unfair that he was self-financing his campaign. Not exactly the most intelligent argument ever, especially coming from a party devoid of economic populism.

The numbers from a recent Fairleigh Dickinson/PublicMind poll would seem to indicate that the GOP shouldn't even bother.

A majority of New Jerseyans do not have a preference regarding who should be appointed to complete Jon Corzine's term in the U.S. Senate if he wins New Jersey's gubernatorial race in November, according to a poll released Monday.

The Fairleigh Dickinson-PublicMind poll gave respondents the chance to choose one of five Democratic congressmen who are seeking the appointment -- Robert Andrews, Robert Menendez, Frank Pallone, Bill Pascrell Jr. and Donald Payne -- or the option to say they had no preference.

Among the five, Menendez was favored by 16 percent of the respondents, while 14 percent picked Andrews and 8 percent chose Pallone. Payne and Pascrell each were supported by 5 percent of the respondents.

However, 39 percent said they had no preference among the five House members, while 5 percent said they would choose none of them and 4 percent said they would be satisfied with any of them. Some 3 percent said they favor acting Gov. Richard J. Codey, who has said he is not interested in the post.

If NJ voters were concerned about the fairness of the matter, far more than five percent would indicate that they would not pick any of the choices. And more than half of respondents said that they would be happy with at least one of the Democrats listed -- Menendez, Andrews, Pallone, Payne, Pascrell, or Codey. This would hardly suggest a question of fairness.

While voters have given Corzine a free pass to pick a successor, some of the other players in this matter obviously didn't make out so well. Rep. Frank Pallone has been campaigning to take Corzine's Senate seat since before McGreevey had even left office, yet he only garners 8% support. Rep. Bob Menendez has long been considered a shoo-in for the Senate seat, yet Rep. Rob Andrews has nearly as much support.

Andrews backed off of challenging Corzine in the gubernatorial primaries, so he's got a shot. But Menendez is a powerful political player in North Jersey, whose help Corzine will need in the race. It's anyone's guess as to who has the best prospects at being named to the Senate in the event of a Corzine win. But it's nice to know that going into the '06 Senate race, whoever Corzine names as his successor will be a non-controversial pick with the advantage of incumbency.

Tags: Governor 2005-6 (all tags)

Permalink :: 15 Comments :: Post a Comment

If Corzine "demanded" a special election (none / 0)

The GOP & Rush Limbaugh would scream bloody murder that he was wasting taxpayer dollars on a special election.

by ROGNM on Mon Jul 25, 2005 at 02:00:53 PM EST

Who can help deliver for Corzine (none / 0)

The Newark area is already going to go by massive majorities to Corzine. Where Forrester has a real shot of winning is down in South Jersey, which is all too often ignored by state-wide candidates. If Andrews, who represents my former district in Camden County, can deliver the general area - such as Burlington Co. - to the Corzine column, then he might have won some more influence with Corzine in terms of being named to fill his seat.

My choice, actually, is Acting Gov. Dick Codey. He's the best. I wish Corzine didn't run for governor in the first place, because Codey's really terrific.

by Tim Saler on Mon Jul 25, 2005 at 02:01:26 PM EST

When McGreevey said he would resign (none / 0)

Republicans demanded that he do so immediately, so that a special election would choose his successor. He refused, of course, but if I recall correctly, the argument wasn't unpopular.

I wouldn't be suprised if Republicans demanded one here, too. They're better off if their anointed candidate can avoid a Republican Primary, where the candidate might lose to a wingnut.

Given that this is New Jersey, and the Demcoratic candidate will probably win, incumbent or not, I think it would be wise if Corzine picked a candidate who didn't intend to run for re-election in 2006. It'd be bad enough if Republicans demanded a special election; you don't want Democrats to join the chorus, too.

by Drew on Mon Jul 25, 2005 at 02:31:37 PM EST

I would hope (3.00 / 1)

I would hope Corzine would use the opportunity to diversify the U.S. Senate. There's a good list of Hispanic, African-American and female candidates in New Jersey that all would be great Senators.

by DWCG on Mon Jul 25, 2005 at 02:56:52 PM EST

I favor Mendez (none / 0)

I think we need to continue to build the Latino vote

by bruh21 on Mon Jul 25, 2005 at 03:01:19 PM EST

Codey (none / 0)

menendez was one of the 43 crossovers on the patriot Act. I can't see having an open House seat and menendez has been constantly angling for years. Not my choice.

Codey has become more and more popular. Appointing him does not risk any House seats or anything else and he could have given Corzine a primary but did not. Codey should be the pick.

by David Kowalski on Mon Jul 25, 2005 at 03:23:53 PM EST

Re: Codey (none / 0)

I like Codey and wouldn't mind seeing him replace Corzine, but the seat vacated by Menendez wouldn't be in danger. He is from sky blue Hudson county and his sucessor would almost positively be a democrat.

also, something to think about is if Corzine picks Codey, the Republicans will pile on charging its paying back the favor of avoiding a primary challenge, that Codey backed off because he knew he would get something later on. Its complete bs of course, but it may make for a effective attack line.

by dre2k5 on Mon Jul 25, 2005 at 03:45:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Codey (none / 0)

I don't think any of the vacated House seats would be in danger, so no need for that to factor into Corzine's decision much. The Menendez, Payne, and Andrews seats are deep blue. Menendez is in the gerrymandered Latino-majority seat, Payne's is black-majority. Pallone and Pascrell (neither of whom seem likely to get the Senate seat anyway) represent light-blue seats in the suburbs, more of the 55/45 variety.

(For what it's worth, I'd pick Menendez, but whichever of Menendez/Andrews doesn't get Corzine's seat probably gets Lautenberg's seat in '08. Lautenberg is old and probably won't run again -- he already retired once and the only reason he's there now is because someone had to step up and fill the hole left by Torricelli's implosion.)

by Crazy Vaclav on Mon Jul 25, 2005 at 05:58:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Codey (none / 0)

There were quite a few rumors circling around NJ at the time that when Codey decided not to run for re-election as governer that he did so upon promise of a senate seat. Whether or not they were accurate remains to be seen. It is the sort of deal that I can see being brokered.
It would be an interesting setup. With Codey in the Senate for a while, Corzine would be free to use the governership as a springboard towards something greater (I'm pretty sure the idea of a white house run has entered his mind). And then Codey can return after Corzine moves on and take back the governership, basically following in Corzine's footsteps.
All speculation at this point, of course.

by crimsonc on Tue Jul 26, 2005 at 11:17:42 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Kristen Breitweiser (none / 0)

I continue to think she would make an excellent unconventional choice, especially if Corzine wants to avoid "choosing" his successor.

I don't know if she would be interested, but perhaps she would be if she knew she was just doing it for one year.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6030699/site/newsweek/

by tparty on Mon Jul 25, 2005 at 06:10:53 PM EST

I can't take the wimpiness (none / 0)

From two commentators: "oh no, we'd be better to pick a person who won't run in 2006 cause we'll be criticized by the Republicans, and it better not be Codey cause the Republicans will raise their eyebrows"

WTF cares what Republicans say?

If Corzine picks Codey he should just say "Codey was a popular and capable governor and will make a good senator. If the Republicans don't like him, they have every right to challenge him when should he run for reelection in 2006" End of F'ing story.

by Adam T on Mon Jul 25, 2005 at 06:30:19 PM EST

If it was OK for Frank Murkowski (none / 0)

. . . to appoint his daughter Lisa to finish his term in the US Senate in 2002 after becoming governor of Alaska, then it should be OK for Corzine to appoint his replacement, too.

Unless, of course, this is another case of IOKIYAR.

Any Republican crying foul about Corzine should be told (politely, if you're related) to shut up.

by Michael Sheridan on Mon Jul 25, 2005 at 07:09:26 PM EST

Special election? (3.00 / 1)

If Corzine gets elected, isn't it unfair that he should be able to name is own successor? Shouldn't he step down from the Senate now and demand a special election for his seat?

Hell no! I've seen to many Republican crooks get kicked out of office for doing something illegal and then even THEY get to pick their own successor. So when it's our turn, we don't turn it down just to be nice. That's kind of like what Al Gore did when he told all the senate members not to sign the Congressional Black Caucus members petition about the Florida vote count and banged his gavel telling them they were "Out of order", (in other words, shut up!). You think Dick Cheney would do that to his side? You think the Republican members of the Supreme Court would? We can't keep giving up our rights, what few we have left.

The abuses at Abu Garaib were commited by a few bad apples. Some call them inbred Appalachian hillbillies. Junior calls them, "His base".

by William Domingo on Mon Jul 25, 2005 at 08:38:48 PM EST

Re: Special election? (none / 0)

You all get that I was repeating someone argument that I didn't agree with, right? That seems to have been lost on a few people here. Of course I don't think he should call for a special election.

Maybe I should make a few edits...

by Scott Shields on Mon Jul 25, 2005 at 10:30:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Special election? (none / 0)

Well, that's kind of the system in swaths of PA -- at least, lots of folks are being hedgy about whether they intend to run for Philadelphia Mayor, because as soon as they announce (whether holding city or national office), they have to leave their current posts. So you can't write off the idea; it's been done.

acm

by redfox1 on Tue Jul 26, 2005 at 02:24:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

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