Joseph Cryan

Democrats think today's Quinnipiac gubernatorial poll indicates that Gov. Jon Corzine is well on his way to being understood and embraced by the electorate after making several unpopular and tough, but necessary decisions.

Republicans see the poll as demonstrating lackluster support for the Corzine, considering he's spent a combined $100 million on his two previous statewide races, and early enthusiasm for U.S. Attorney Chris Christie's potential candidacy among those who have heard of him.

Meanwhile, non-partisan political analysts see the poll as a wash, with promising and troubling results for both Corzine and U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie, who is viewed as a likely gubernatorial candidate.

Corzine leads Christie in the poll, 42% to 36%, although only 37% of voters think Corzine deserves to be reelected and his approval rating remains net negative. Christie remains a relative unknown, with only 30% of respondents knowing enough about him to form an opinion.

Assemblyman Joseph Cryan (D-Union), the Democratic State Chairman, said that's the number that caught his attention. Despite dozens of positive front page headlines about his indictments and convictions of prominent public officials since he was sworn in, 70% of voters still barely know anything about him.

On top of that, although Corzine still has a net negative approval rating, he's improved significantly since the last Quinnipiac poll in September.

CRYAN, QUIJANO: STATE’S WWII MEMORIAL WILL ENSURE NJ’S ‘GREATEST GENERATION’ NEVER FORGOTTEN

(TRENTON) – Assembly members Joseph Cryan and Annette Quijano said New Jersey's World War II Memorial has ensured the stories of the men and women who sacrificed at home and abroad in the fight against tyranny and fascism will never be forgotten.

U.S. Rep.-elect Leonard Lance will be tough to beat in 2010 after besting Democrat Linda Stender by nine percentage points

Democrats don't think it will be easy to  unseat soon-to-be freshman Leonard Lance from the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010.  Lance scored a 51%-42% victory over Linda Stender, who had been running for three years and had huge financial support from national Democrats.  The district has been Republican since Florence Dwyer ousted Harrison Williams in 1956. 

CRYAN: KOLLURI 'MULTI-TALENTED MANAGER'
WHO CAN GET THE JOB DONE
Assembly Education Committee Chair Applauds Choice to Head
School Construction Agency

(UNION TWP.) - Assembly Education Committee Chairman Joseph Cryan today applauded Governor Jon Corzine's appointment of Kris Kolluri - currently state Department of Transportation commissioner - to take over as chief executive officer of the Schools Development Authority (SDA).

NEW BRUNSWICK - State Democratic Party Chair Joseph Cryan just pumped up the crowd here at the Heldrich Hotel.

"Yes, we can," he cried. "Yes, we can! And in New Jersey, yes, we did!"

The chant was a nod to the Garden State victory tonight of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Il.).

Cryan then introduced Party Vice Chair state Sen. Dana Redd (D-Camden).

“You have already spoken,” said the short list candidate for lieutenant governor in 2009. “You do not want divisive politics.”

ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATS REACT TO BUDGET COMMITTEE HEARING AIMED AT HELPING STATE AMID FINANCIAL MELTDOWN

(TRENTON) - Assembly Democrats today issued the following multimedia package as the Assembly Budget committee considered legislation that would expand the state's network of social support programs amid a continuing global economic meltdown.

The panel met as part of a concerted effort by the Assembly to continue its focus on helping New Jerseyans and businesses emerge strong from the global financial crisis.

Assembly committees today considered 19 pieces of legislation to revamp state business taxes and incentives, help struggling homeowners, promote jobs, protect consumers from financial fraud and help low-income residents.

CRYAN BILL TO PROHIBIT EXORBITANT FAREWELL PERKS FOR SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS CLEARS SENATE

(TRENTON) – The Senate today gave final approval to legislation Assemblyman Joseph Cryan sponsored to derail the “gravy train” that has allowed some departing school superintendents to provide themselves with over-the-top severance packages.

Eleven months after James Devine, a Union County Democratic operative/newspaper publisher, was arrested for owing $20,000 in child support and alimony, he has lost his home.  A Superior Court Judge today ordered the eviction of Devine from his Elizabeth apartment for non-payment of rent.  A Superior Court Judge signed an order this month telling Devine to vacate his residence by October 24, pay $2,700 to the court, and said he can not apply for additional extensions. Earlier this year, Democratic State Chairman Joseph Cryan described him as “a sleaze ball, the worst in politics.”

Gov. Jon Corzine, struggling to win the approval of N.J. voters, announced his economic stimulus plan today
Political pundits tend to agree that the surge in Democrats on the voter rolls will help New Jersey Democrats this election cycle, from those running for federal office down to freeholder.

But as Gov. Corzine pitches his economic proposals for dealing with the financial crisis today -- which many see as the second early salvo of his reelection campaign – the pundits are less clear on whether the state’s bolstered Democratic majority will provide a big boost to him next year.

Right now, the new registration numbers look good for Democrats.  Statewide, as of the latest report from the Division of Elections dated October 13th there just under 600,000 more Democrats than there were in November, 2007.  Republicans had a much more modest gain, with 176,000 new party members.

Many of those new registrants are merely voters who leaned Democratic anyway but never bothered to vote in a primary before this year.  The number of unaffiliated voters, for instance, dropped by 322,000.

But there have also been 449,000 new registrants since November, and all indications are that the newly enfranchised are trending blue.

Nobody can accuse Gov. Jon Corzine of not being politically active this election cycle.

He's become one of Barack Obama's point men on the economy, campaigning for him in Philadelphia and Florida and just yesterday appearing on NBC's "Meet the Press" as a surrogate. But when it comes to the campaigns of New Jersey Democrats who are engaged in tight federal races, Corzine has largely played a background role, having made only a couple brief campaign appearances with 7th District congressional candidate Linda Stender and none with 3rd District candidate John Adler.

Nationally, Obama can use Corzine's image as the economically savvy Goldman Sachs CEO. That idea no longer applies in New Jersey. Throughout the campaign, Corzine has been to Republicans what President Bush has been to Democrats: a public figure to rally the troops against, though to a lesser than Bush.

Tonight, Corzine will attend Sen. Hillary Clinton's fundraiser for Stender, but it's not open to the press or general public. Monmouth University pollster Patrick Murray thinks the Democrats want to keep it that way.

"Neither George Bush nor Jon Corzine helps any candidates in those races," said Murray. "So the more Jon Corzine stays out, the better it is. George Bush is the lesser popular of the two figures, so the Democrats want to keep that focus on George Bush and they don't want it muted or neutralized by bringing Jon Corzine into the picture."