Jersey Boys

Undaunted by a new poll showing his visit could have a limited impact, Pres. Obama literally rolled up his sleeves today in NJ, delivering speeches touting his health care reform agenda and his continued support for Gov. Jon Corzine (D). "You decided it's time for change," Obama told a loud crowd of some 17K in Holmdel, NJ. "If you stand with us, if you reelect Jon Corzine there's nothing that's going to stop us New Jersey from getting health care reform done."

The president, back on the trail supporting a candidate for the first time since being sworn in, mentioned the five Jersey City police officers who were shot in the line of duty this morning, and then talked up his support for Corzine. "He's been tested by the worst recession in half a century," Obama said, adding that the recession was precipitated by a "do nothing attitude" that has "plagued our politics for decades."

"That's not the kind of leader Jon Corzine is," Obama said. "This is a man who is here because he cares about what is right in New Jersey." Minutes earlier, Obama delivered similar remarks to a funder for the gov.'s camp and the New Jersey Democratic State Committee (over a $1M raised was the early word from the Corzine camp).


In front of the heavily African American crowd at the open-air PNC Bank Arts Center, Obama said there are some in DC "who want us to go down the path we've already traveled for the last decade, and do the same old same old." The only thing they're offering is more tax breaks, he said. "That's their idea of America."

"That's not a future Jon Corzine accepts," he said. "We did not come this far as a country because we looked backwards."

Obama's speech focused heavily on health care reform and was delivered with the tone of a leader still very much in campaign mode. While he talked about his partnership with Corzine, he left it to the gov. to throw jabs at his opponent, ex-U.S. Atty Chris Christie (R).

"There will always be critics," Corzine said in a 12-minute speech. "Here in New Jersey, those critics promise the moon." He cited GOP campaign promises to cut taxes and balance the state budget while laying off state workers. He then said his "critics" believe "there should be two legal systems." Corzine: "No bid contracts for their friends and tough love for everyone else."

"The same people who so miserably failed in the White House now want you to hand your keys to the Statehouse to them," Corzine said, attempting to link Christie to George W. Bush. "They don't know how to lead."

Obama is the definition of leadership, Corzine said. "I share his values and I share his commitment and I share his sense of purpose. ... We're both working to repair the incredible damage done to our country from a Republican Congress and a Republican White House."

During the pre-program, NJ Dem vice chair Dana Redd called Christie a "loyal Bush fundraiser" who "wants to take the state backwards" with the "same failed policies" as nat'l GOPers.

The rally crowd boasted several prominent Corzine backers, including ex-Gov./NJ Senate Pres. Richard Codey (D) and Newark Mayor Cory Booker (D). Asked if he thought African American voters would support Corzine in November, Booker told On Call: "I think we're all frustrated with the state of affairs right now."

He continued: "It's time to participate more. ... I think the issue is not will [African Americans] support [Corzine], but just making sure we get a large voter turnout and people get excited about this election and realize what's at stake here."

"We've made some tremendous strides in cities like Newark," Booker went on, citing a drop in crime, an increase in affordable housing; building new parks. "A lot of these good things are happening because we have a partner in the White House, a partner in the Statehouse and what's going on in Newark. So people need to understand that powerful link to actually getting real progress in communities where, traditionally, African Americans live."

Turning it back to local issues, NJ GOP Chair Jay Webber said in a statement: "Corzine's record of failure has led to 17 consecutive months of job losses and the highest unemployment in the state in 32 years. No amount of campaigning by the President or any of Governor Corzine's Washington friends can change this fact."

GOPers were buoyed today by a new Monmouth poll that indicates that while 59% of NJ voters approve of the job Obama's doing, three out of four likely voters say their vote for GOV will be based solely on state and local issues. And seven out of ten said that having Obama actively campaign for Corzine would have no effect on their vote.

Still, it seems this event was good for both Dems' prospects. As the line for will-call tickets grew over the morning, it became an easy target for the some 40 Organizing for America volunteers canvassing for signatures in support of Obama's health care plan. Both campaigns will continue through the fall.

[SEAN J. MILLER]