July 2, 2008 - 5:35pm
Obama state director choice comes down to Decheine, Mueller and Chicago
By Max PizarroIn picking a state director to run operations in New Jersey, the Obama Campaign in Chicago will choose between a congressman's chief of staff, and a labor chief friendly with the governor's administration, according to Democratic Party sources.
For several days, internal talks have gone on between Gov. Jon Corzine, members of the State Committee, Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), and members of the Congressional delegation about a same-page choice for State Director of the Obama Campaign.
It's come down to two names.
In the running are Bob Decheine, chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman (D-9); and Patricia A. Mueller, chief of staff, New Jersey Regional Council of Carpenters.
The governor scheduled a Wednesday evening conference call to bring all parties up to date as New Jersey makes the hand-off to Illinois, but that call was postponed.
A Northeast Regional co-chair for the Obama campaign who was the only member of New Jersey's congressional delegation to endorse Obama during the Democratic Primary, Rothman has pressed vigorously in the last few weeks for his chief to get the job.
But the governor didn't exactly rush to buttress Rothman's first pick.
Labor chief Mueller interviewed with the governor's office for the position, and sources say she impressed Corzine. The labor leader has close ties and a solid working relationship with Corzine's deputy chief of staff, Maggie Moran.
At least two other politicos interviewed for the state director role.
Although Corzine endorsed Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) for president and campaigned hard on her behalf, his connection to Obama goes back to when Corzine was chair of the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee.
The future governor specifically targeted Obama's U.S. Senate race in Illinois.
In the Mueller-Decheine head to head, sources say the decision about who runs New Jersey ops for the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee now rests with Obama and his Chicago campaign cadre.
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Quote of the Day
August 19, 2008
“I liquidated my stake in Dune Capital, it’s all reported and it’s all public." -- Gov. Jon Corzine, on his own investment in a company involved in the Xanadu project where a close friend and a former senior advisor own stock.
-The Record, 08/19/08
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Today’s Must Reads:
Xanadu bill footnote may weigh on Corzine― CHARLES STILE
Zoffinger not one to deny beliefs, avoid controversy― 'Codey's an idiot, and you can print that'
Welcome to New Jersey, Media Wasteland― NEW YORK OBSERVER
Divorce McGreevey style ― ALFRED DOBLIN
The judge got it right ― JAMES AHEARN
Capital Games― HERB JACKSON
Teen will get chance to sue a top N.J. judge ― ROBERTO RIVERA-SOTO
Mayor refusing to apologize for anti-Semitic slur ― WOODCLIFF LAKE
Court decision likely to have far-reaching implications in N.J. ― EMINENT DOMAIN
McGreevey divorce: a prediction― KATHLEEN O;BRIEN
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who's decision is it?
why Frank Lautenberg or members of the Congressional delegation would have any input whatsoever is beyond me. Maybe the solicitation of their opinion was just window-dressing. I hope nobody in Chicago took their opinions seriously.
They have to kiss Corzine's ass a little, since he does control the DSC... but I wouldn't think that he'd have veto power.
What happenned to Mark Alexander, he didn't want the job?
Decheine is the obvious choice for political reasons, but I don't know what his campaign experience resume looks like.
Booker & Healy
I'm also surprised that Booker and Healy were not consulted as to their preference.
Don't they have any input in this decision?
They endorsed Obama long before Rothman, and run the 2 biggest cities in NJ. I'm surprised that no one from one of their political organizations was considered for the job.
Mueller all the way
If they pick Decheine, then the director position is simply going to be a figurehead, and they'll need someone with real statewide campaign experience to run the day to day operations. Never a smart move, but unfortunately common. Mueller is a far superior choice. Mr. Democrat apparently doesnt understand how presidential campaigns work. Since Obama is not going to invest a lot of money here, the people who ARE going to spend money here (Lautenberg, Corzine/DSC and the Democratic congressional delegation) get a voice. It's their money that's going to pay for the canvassers, vans, etc that will get out the vote.
Rothman is going down.
Just watch my words. Obama will make nice with Corzine. Change is good, but not too much change in NJ is even better.