Response by Rick Thigpen

These results tell me that the public has not yet heard an adequate cause to resign in the Governor's public explanations.  It does make one wonder what exactly is going on.  Did the Governor resign for reasons that were personally compelling without regard to political calculations, did he miscalculate the politics, or is it that we just don't know the full story?

What is clear is that the public that had so many concerns about the Governor's performance in office, remains unclear about the reason for his resignation.  As the Governor strengthens the Stem Cell Institute, bans pay to play and takes other actions that show a newly found liberation from political strings, he may want to consider whether the public's confusion about his decision to resign may itself become his legacy.

Senator Codey now has the challenge -- and opportunity -- of defining > himself to the New Jersey electorate.  Since you never get a second chance to make a first impression, the first days will be the most important of his tenure as Governor.

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.