N.J. Sen. Corzine Explores Possible Run
By AP from the
NYTimes on the Web, August 18, 2004
TRENTON, N.J. -- As pressure
mounts on both sides of the political aisle for Gov. James E. McGreevey to step
down before his self-imposed deadline, U.S. Sen. Jon Corzine has begun to
explore the idea of running to replace the embattled governor.
Corzine was discussing the possibility of being the party's candidate in a
special election with state Democratic leaders Tuesday and gauging support from
special interest groups, according to two sources who spoke on condition of
anonymity; one was from within the party and another was familiar with the
calls.
The Star-Ledger of Newark reported that he began the process at state Senate
President Richard Codey's home. He then spent
the rest of the day in talks with Democrats split on whether McGreevey should
quit now.
"There's obviously a decision to be made. There
are people out there saying, `Jon Corzine should be our candidate.' It is
something he is considering," Corzine spokesman David Wald told the newspaper in
Wednesday's editions.
Wald said Corzine would not pressure McGreevey, a fellow Democrat, to leave
before his Nov. 15 deadline. "We still have a
governor. Jon Corzine is not pushing McGreevey
to get out," Wald said.
Codey said little about the meeting he had with Corzine. "I
spoke to Jon about the government and where we're going," Codey said.
By staying in office beyond Sept. 3, McGreevey would stave off the need for a
special election to fill the balance of his term, which expires in January 2006.
McGreevey, 47, announced his resignation nearly a week ago, stunning the
political establishment with the news that he was gay and had an adulterous
affair with a man.
Former Republican Gov. Christie Whitman added her voice to the chorus of those
demanding McGreevey step down immediately. "The
minute you announce that you're going to resign, you're a lame duck and it
becomes increasingly impossible to get anything done," she said.
McGreevey on Tuesday continued to resist renewed pressure to leave before
November, and administration officials discounted charges that he could not
effectively govern between now and then.
"Everybody who knows Gov. McGreevey knows he is a hard worker; he's been anxious
to get back to work," spokesman Micah Rasmussen said.
McGreevey spent Tuesday meeting with cabinet members and his homeland security
advisers and working on plans to hand over his administration to Codey, who will
take over as acting governor.
If there is an election, several Republicans have expressed an interest in
running, and party leaders are looking to veterans like Whitman or Tom Kean, a
former two-term governor.
Kean, who headed the nation's investigation into the 2001 terrorist attacks,
said he is not interested in running again. "I'm
doing this now, not that," Kean said after a hearing before the House Homeland
Security Committee in Washington.
Whitman did not expressly rule out running in a special election.
"I think it really depends on who's running on
the other side," she said.
Meanwhile, attention focused again on McGreevey's acknowledgment of the
extramarital affair.
U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie said he was investigating the possibility
of criminal wrongdoing, but he would not specify whether his office was looking
into misconduct by McGreevey or claims of an extortion attempt by the man.
Also, another scandal surrounding McGreevey was expected to reach court.
A federal official said a top donor to McGreevey was to plead guilty
Wednesday in a case involving allegations that he had a prostitute seduce a
government witness.
Charles Kushner was accused July 13 of hiring a prostitute to have sex with his
own brother-in-law, who was a cooperating witness in an investigation into
whether Kushner violated campaign contribution laws and committed tax fraud.
Kushner is charged with conspiracy, obstructing
a federal investigation and promoting interstate prostitution.
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