Jon Corzine is the only incumbent governor up for reelction this year, and despite his deep pockets, isn't looking so good. And on the heels of last week's massive corruption bust, it's beginning to look like even more of an uphill climb. Should he consider stepping down?
To be clear, Governor Corzine himself has been in no way implicated in any of the charges levied against the slew of public officials who embarrassed themselves and the state last week. But unfortunately in political campaigns, perception often supersedes reality in terms of winning public support. Corzine already had an image problem, and in addition to facing a daunting deficit in the polls, this fiasco will only further weaken his efforts at crafting a sound campaign strategy.
He will surely be characterized as somehow complicit in the rampant corruption that was exposed yesterday, and true or not, it will be a supremely effective juxtaposition for the opposition to make us of. Chris Christie could not have asked for much more than this, as he touts his record as a former prosecutor and a reformer, promising to uproot the pervasive corruption in Trenton.
Corzine probably could have emerged somewhat unscathed from all the drama if it were not for the situation involving Joseph Doria, his Community Affairs Commissioner, who resigned last week after his home was raided by federal agents. No charges have yet been levied against Doria, but the fact that an official in Corzine's cabinet is being investigated is damage enough. Corzine will be dogged by this until election day, whether or not Doria is charged. What did he know? When did he know it?
The busts also throw a monkey wrench into the type of campaign strategy that Corzine has chosen to wage against Chris Christie; branding him as another run-of-the-mill politician in a reformer's clothes, happy to shell out no-bid contracts to his cronies. It's a fair allegation, but pales in comparison to the types of charges that will invariably be thrown at Corzine for any alleged involvement with the corruption exposed last week.
Both Assemblymen arrested, L. Harvey Smith and Daniel Van Pelt, are accused of accepting bribes for help acquiring building permits, were acting on behalf of state agencies. Questions could arise in relation to Corzine's knowledge of which permits were issued, and to whom.
I again want to emphasize that Corzine himself should not be thought of as responsible for any of the wrongdoing that unraveled yesterday in front of the entire nation. But I don't believe that he will be able to inoculate himself from its political fallout.
PolitickerNJ reports that a lawyer has been speaking to party officials on Cory Booker's behalf in the event that Corzine drops out of the race. One also must imagine that Dick Codey has received a few phone calls. Perhaps Corzine's pick for lieutenant governor, Loretta Weinberg, would fit the bill.
The chances of the governor withdrawing are slim, for sure. But the possibility of it happening to should be taken seriously.