Response by Rick Thigpen

Acting Governor Codey appears to have taken the mantle as New Jersey’s most popular politician, edging out Senator Corzine largely on the strength of his crossover appeal.  Accomplishing this feat, as he wrestled with an unruly budget and a public that largely thinks the state is headed in the wrong direction, is quite a tribute to his political appeal.

For his part, Senator Corzine still looks like a winner in the gubernatorial sweepstakes. With over 90% name ID, and still solid approval numbers, Senator Corzine remains the man to beat. He’s taking some punches but still standing tall in the face of the constant sniping of the Republican gubernatorial septuplets and negative attack ads run by Doug Forrester. If this is they best they got for Corzine, what happens to them when he starts fighting back?

Comment by Fairleigh Dickinson University's PublicMind Academic Associate, Rick Thigpen (J.D., Columbia University Law School). Rick is a former Executive Director of the New Jersey Democratic Party and now a partner in The Strategy Group and is a campaign coordinator for the Essex County Democratic Party. Rick Thigpen, Esq. can be reached at (609) 394-0888.