State Budget - MercerInCharge - Straight scoop and Green's role...

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Published as a post in Wally Edge column, PoliticsNJ, July 1-, 2006

MercerInCharge

Here's the straight scoop in NJ in re: The Budget...

Corzine is the big winner. Norcross is the big loser.

The "Superboss from the South" isn't taking this loss well -- although he views it as just a momentary setback. For him, this is just one round of a protracted fight he'll continue to aggressively prosecute. He won't relent until he wins the prize -- total control of the State.

Word in South Jersey is the Camden Machine is now plotting their next move to undermine Corzine and Codey. Despite the weakened condition of many South Jersey Democratic legislators, the Camden Machine views all of them as unbeatable next year given the feeble, underfunded Republicans of the region -- with the exception of the strong Burlington and Ocean GOP organizations. Norcross believes the most vulnerable Democratic legislators are located in North and Central Jersey districts.

Sweeney's recent crusade (StopSpendingMyMoney.com) is a long-term strategic move hatched by Steve Ayscue to advance Norcross' power ambitions while undermining Corzine, and this initiative will intensify in upcoming months.

NOW, THE MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS IN NJ...

What effect will Norcross' recent moves have on public employee unions in South Jersey -- and Atlantic City-based unions? Will Donald Norcross' stranglehold over South Jersey labor be impacted? Will Rob Andrews discontinue his recent failed strategy of sucking up to Norcross and return to being "his own man"? Will Norcross follow through on his threat to dump Herb Conaway? Will Norcross be permitted to continue his blitzkriegs around the state via wheeling -- or will Corzine & Codey Democrats (w/ votes from across the aisle) finally fill this gaping campaign finance loophole which allows Camden County to become such a regional and statewide power? Is Gormley's re-election now a cinch? Will the current Norcross strategy of buttering up Warren Wallace in an attempt to keep him from flipping succeed? Will Norcross decide instead to throw Wayne Bryant under the bus? Who is now Norcross' "Golden Boy" to succeed Rob Andrews -- Lou Greenwald or Steve Sweeney?

Will Corzine finally decide to discontinue the other protracted government shutdown -- DRPA -- by striking a deal with Rendell? With NJ's early presidential primary looming, is Corzine still leaning toward Hillary, or is Mark Warner in the game? Is McCain heading for a landslide win over in NJ's GOP primary which will propel him to his party's nomination?

Will the recently enacted tax hikes and the additional taxes coming down the pike (as a result of the special legislative session) finally trigger a tax revolt? Will Stender's uphill race against Ferguson now get steeper? Will the GOP intraparty squabbles in Bergen and Passaic continue to cause them to underperform? Will the GOP benefit from the upcoming McGreevey portrait ceremony and book tour? Will Corodemus decide to reach an accommodation with Sean Kean to preserve party unity (and his place on the ticket?)

Will Cory Booker's burgeoning popularity in the city and the state propel him to national stardom? Who's the Asbury Park Press' next target? Will Chris Christie ever penetrate the I-95 barrier and become a household name in South Jersey? Who will Corzine eye as his running mate for his next race? Will the Democrats live to regret their decision to add $300 million in "pork spending"? Can Baroni go all the way from the General Assembly to statewide office? Can you move from Morris County Freeholder to statewide office? Are we very soon going to see Senator Moriarty? Will Mayor Cindy Rau-Hatton become a player in the 4th LD? Have we seen the luster finally wear off Van Drew? Will Corzine pick Lance for the Poritz vacancy after all? Might Diane Allen be the perfect GOP lieutenant governor candidate? Who's the Norcross pick to become the next 5th LD Senator? Will the "back in business" GOP strategist extraordinaire Mark Campbell lead his party out of the doldrums?

Will Caraballo survive? After Speaker Roberts leaves his leadership post who will ascend to the throne? Will Wally Edge (also known as Steve Ayscue) finally quit using his web site to promote his South Jersey Democrats? Is Rabner soon going to replace embattled AG Zulima? Will Cryan and Greenwald kiss and make up? Will a light bulb go off over on the GOP side this summer and someone finally realizes Kean Jr. needs to see a speech coach? Will another light bulb go off in Tom Wilson's office with the stunning revelation that Baroni-esque winning strategies can be employed elsewhere in the state? Will Ferriero finally succeed in taking the crown off Weinberg and bestowing it upon Zisa? Will Palatucci be the Kingmaker in NJ's next gubernatorial election? For how long can Lautenberg continue to do it? (No, we're not referring to the newlywed's romance life.) Will statewide GOP candidates ever figure out the secret of how to walk, chew gum, appeal to centrist voters, and avoid inflaming pro-lifers?

Comment Posted by: MercerinCharge | July 11, 2006 03:44 AM

http://politics.nexcess.net/insideedge/2006/07/post_3.html

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