lt. governor

Voters don’t care if Gov. Jon Corzine picks a woman or a minority for Lt. Governor if he runs again next year, according to a Zogby International poll of likely voters commissioned by Garden State Equality.  Just 31% says a ticket balanced by gender or race is important, while 65% say it is unimportant. 

Among women voters, 58% say they don’t care if Corzine picks a woman running mate, while 37% say they do. 

Racial balance is more important to African American voters that Latinos: 66% of African Americans consider it important, while just 31% of Latino voters do. 

Assemblywoman Alison McHose is mentioned as a possible GOP candidate for Lt. Governor in 2009: Getty Images Photo
Among the many names bandied about as potential Republican gubernatorial running mates next year is Assemblywoman Allison Littell McHose (R-Franklin), who represents the third generation of a Sussex County political dynasty.

Just before speaking at a news conference attacking the Clean Elections program that she took part in last year, McHose indicated that she was open to the possibility of running for the newly created position of Lieutenant Governor.

“I’d be flattered and would consider it. I’m not actively seeking to promote myself like some on the other side,” she said. “I’m a humble politician.”

Is Jon Corzine following the Barack Obama model and auditioning candidates for Lieutenant Governor by taking a road trip?  The Governor, who says he’ll seek re-election next year, is leaving today for Fort Bliss in Texas, where he’ll lead a bi-partisan delegation to visit with New Jersey National Guard troops.  Four of the five Democrats joining him have been mentioned as possible candidates for Lt. Governor: Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney, Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman, and State Sen. Teresa Ruiz.   

There’s even a Chuck Hagel-type on the trip: former Republican Congressman Bob Franks, who nearly beat Corzine in the 2000 U.S. Senate race but has now become a close friend and sometime policy advisor.

Some Democratic insiders suggest that the hyper local political problems that seem to be plaguing Newark Mayor Cory Booker might help the nationally prominent rising star more interested in running for Lieutenant Governor in 2009.  Booker, Democrats say, would make a very attractive running mate for Jon Corzine, but could have trouble winning re-election to a second term as Mayor in 2010.

One rumor making the rounds for the second time this year: that Governor Jon Corzine, who has had a clear case of George Norcross-envy since the 2000 U.S. Senate race and has been increasingly eager to please the South Jersey Democratic leader, will pick Rob Andrews as his candidate for Lt. Governor next year.