By David Cruz
NJ Today
It was the worst kept secret in New Jersey politics, but now that it’s out, the rest of the prospective field has a clear path to take action, or, in some cases, not. As official word began to spread, first via an Op Ed piece, and then via slick video, state Democrats were assessing the new political landscape.
“He would have been a very good candidate, but he decided not to run, so we move on,” said former governor and, perhaps, future gubernatorial candidate Sen. Richard Codey.
State Sen. Barbara Buono, the only announced Democratic candidate for governor, shrugged when she heard the news today. “For me, it’s not about who else is in the race,” she said.
WATCH VIDEO:
Some pundits and politicos criticized Booker today, for walking away from what would have been a marquee political prizefight between two of the country’s highest profile politicians. Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo, though isn’t one of them. With Booker passing on a fight for governor, DiVincenzo won’t have to work against his buddy Chris Christie. Not surprisingly, he says Booker’s doing the right thing.
“Having [Sen.] Bob Menendez and Cory Booker would put us on the national stage when it comes to the Democratic Party, so it’s something really exciting if that’s what he chooses to do,” said DiVincenzo. “There’s no question if he runs, I will be supporting Cory Booker for Senate.”
In Newark, Booker’s popularity has been slipping of late, especially after a judge thwarted his attempt to appoint a city council replacement, but his heir apparent, council president Anibal Ramos says Newarkers will now have the best of both Bookers.
“He’s someone that understands firsthand the difficulties of running a city, the challenges that are in place in a big city like Newark during the toughest economic climate in our lifetime,” said Ramos, “and the leadership of the future has to be focused on some of the issues that are impacting our residents today.”
Senator Lautenberg’s office, with whom Booker says he will “consult” over the next two years, released a statement, saying in part: “This is not the time for political distractions and the Senator will address politics next year.”
If he’s to present a compelling argument for a U.S. Senate run, Booker needs to maximize his final two years at city hall by stabilizing the city’s finances, regaining the upper hand on crime and helping to create jobs, no easy task in a city where nothing is ever easy.
It’s tough to imagine Cory Booker somehow now becoming a hands-on mayor. His sights are clearly set elsewhere. And while he says the next two years will be about finishing the job he started, it will also be about laying the groundwork for his next big challenge, which could lead, as many have expected all along, to an eventual run for the White House.