With Corzine in Trouble, Biden Comes to New Jersey

I live in New Jersey. I'm from New York but live in New Jersey. It's important I make that distinction, since when you grow up in New York, you grow up with this rivalry toward New Jersey that you never quite understand. (Some may have their own opinions as to why this is, but since I'm waiting to hear from a certain New Jersey educational institution about grad school, I'll just say that I've come to appreciate many aspects of this wonderful state that I haven't before - aside from the drivers who terrify me and never follow proper road rules.) It's a similar feud between Maryland (I've lived there, too) and Virginia. But I digress...

Anyway, being that I live in New Jersey, it's difficult to escape the fact that our governor, Jon Corzine, is in trouble. He's up for reelection his year, and there are endless reports that voters are fed up with him, particularly when it comes to the state's fiscal situation. We just found out that this year's tax collections were off by so much that his administration needs to scrape together $1.2 billion by June 30 to make up for it.

That point has not been missed by former U.S. attorney Chris Christie, a Republican who may be Corzine's toughest opponent. Republican Steve Longean is also running and gaining on Christie. The primary is June 2. Christie has support from big names like Rudy Giuliani and former Jersey City Mayor Bret Schundler, but Corzine just announced today he's bringing out the big guns.

Vice President Joe Biden is going to join Corzine for a primary night rally June 2 in West Orange; Biden was here last week to tout construction projects made possible by the stimulus package. Corzine was a supporter of Barack Obama after he supported Hillary Clinton in last fall's White House race - his name was even floated as a possible Treasury Secretary pre-Tim Geithner - and he's hoping he can ride those coattails back into Trenton for second term.

Corzine sent an e-mail to supporters today saying:

"When we worked together and elected Barack Obama and Joe Biden, we sent a resounding message that we were determined to build a better America. We demanded strong and competent Democratic leadership for our country, and recommitted ourselves to protecting our core values. After eight long years of the Bush Administration, we are united once again in our common responsibilities to nurture our children, honor our seniors, protect those among us who are most vulnerable, and stand up for the middle class. In just 176 days, New Jersey is going to face a fundamental choice: Will we continue that progress?"

Although New Jersey is a pretty blue state, Corzine could use the help. A Quinnipiac poll out about a month ago shows that New Jersey voters disapprove 54 -37 percent of the job Jon Corzine is doing that's the highest disapproval ever measured for a New Jersey governor. Corzine trailed Christie 45-38 percent. If Corzine's seat looks even more threatened as the months go on, Obama himself may very well make an appearance.

And the race is already heated over the Internet and the airwaves - for the primary at least - particularly because Republicans actually think they could turn the governor's seat red this year. And with Virginia being the only other state holding gubernatorial elections this year, it's likely many eyes will be on The Garden State - for something other than rumors that Bruce Springsteen cheated on his wife or the much-anticipated kickoff of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey."