So why is Corzine running for governor?

[Hippo_Tron]

I've always wondered why somebody would leave a safe US Senate seat to become a governor, but here are my guesses so far. Tell me what you guys think.

1) The Governor's seat is vulnerable to Republican takeover, and as I recall, Governor is the only statewide elected office in NJ. Corzine is one of the most popular politicians in the state and democrats have convinced him to run because he has a damn good shot at winning.

2) As I recall, your state is having some budget difficulties, what state isn't? If there's any guy who's equipped to handle a budget problem, it would be this guy. He's a self made millionaire from being chairman of one of, if not the most, prestigious investment banking firms in the country.

3) He wants to be president some day.

That's about all I can think of, feel free to comment, criticize, correct, whatever, I'm just looking for some insight on this.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. It's #2.

Plus, he wants to put a dent in NJ Dem Machine Politics.

It's what got us into the McGreevey mess in the first place.

On edit: I don't think that anyone had to "convince him". His plan was 2 terms in the senate, then Governor. The McGreevey mess forced him to alter his timeframes a bit.

[Hippo_Tron]

2. NJ Dem Machine Politics = ?

I assume that just means corruption.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

3. Pretty much so.

Machine politics tend to worry about existing status quos, far more than solutions to problems and "out of the box" thinking.

Corzine's financial expertise would be a breath of fresh air in this state. He would float a lot of Dem boats, too, down-ticket.

[xchrom]

4. i'm in cali

but 2 things -- i think he'll be punished for the former gov's stuff and 2nd i think we need him in the senate.
but -- oh well...

[BrklynLiberal]

5. More governors get to be President than Senators...and it seems

that there is more personal prestige and power in being a governor, especially of a state like NJ, than being a Senator..especially in a Senate that is constructed like it is now. It is a pretty powerless position these days. Sure hope he is replaced with a Democrat!!!!

[Poppyseedman]

6. Because he can

1. He thinks his money can buy him anything
2. He is running for President.

The Senate is a lot easier platform to jump from, since you don't have any real voting record to be held accountable for. He has served one term, not a lot of votes to politic against

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

8. If you think that is true about him...

Then I would have to say you know nothing about the man.

He is a good man and clearly sees the changes that must take place in NJ, in both the party and the state as a whole.

There are some county bosses who really do not sleep well with the though of him being governor dancing in their brains.

[Poppyseedman]

9. About his money

He didn't get to the Senate strictly on charm and looks. Do you think if he was just a regular smoe, he would be a N.J. Senator?

My statement may have come across wrong but, lets be real. He's loaded and guys who are loaded think their money can make anything happen. I have know a few people who are super wealthy. That's the way they think. Doesn't mean they use their money for nefarious purposes, just they know it's power.

[Kire]

11. two things I don't understand

Poppyseedman said:

"The Senate is a lot easier platform to jump from, since you don't have any real voting record to be held accountable for."

huh? I thought the senators do the voting, and the Governors, well, how can they vote if they are only one person?


Hippo_Tron said:

"...as I recall, Governor is the only statewide elected office in NJ"

what about Senator?

Or maybe I understand them better than the previous posters. I don't know, that's what I'm asking.

[Hippo_Tron]

12. Err I meant not counting US Senators

Basically, I meant that it's the only statewide elected position in the state government, the Governor gets to appoint people to a lot of positions that are elected in other states.

[Kire]

13. sorry

I was in a bad mood when I posted that.

Sorry for the flame.

[Hippo_Tron]

14. Flame? Didn't seem like one...

But anyway, no worries.

[dalloway]

7. Corzine prefers being an executive

After years of successfully running Goldman Sachs, he has said he prefers being in an executive position (i.e. doesn't have to be one of a zillion congressional cogs). I am a huge fan of Corzine's, and living in NJ, I will do what I can to support him. Although I am very sad to lose him representing me in Washington, I think it only someone like him that can break the corrupt county-boss machine system here in NJ. With plenty of his own funds and his own funding network, he is not beholden to them. I think he is our only real chance right now to clean up the notoriously corrupt politics in NJ.

He has my full support.

[Osamasux]

10. AND WE HAVE A WINNER.

Corzine does his best work when he's calling the shots. He's not into the all the speech making which constitutes most work in the Senate. With the Republican hold on things in the federal government, I don't think he sees much chance to accomplish a lot in DC, versus what he can do in Trenton.

As for his money, more power too him. He grew up on a Midwest farm. Worked his way through school. Was successful as an investment banker and ended up loaded. He never lost the values he grew up with. Being rich is not a crime. You can be a schmuck with or without money.

[Jersey Devil]

15. Agreed - administration is his strength

I am sure he isn't pleased being in the Senate where nothing ever gets done and he is in the minority with no chance to change anything.

He is a decision maker and is much more suited to be an executive.