Wesley Clark

Senate President Richard Codey: Politicker file photo NEWARK - Senate President Richard Codey (D- Essex) stands by retired Gen. Wesley Clark as his top choice to complement a ticket with presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.

Codey called for Clark as his party’s vice presidential candidate months ago, at a time when the four star general appeared to be on Obama’s short list.

The Clark buzz died after Obama publicly disassociated himself from remarks Clark made on a TV interview show.

"He got into trouble when he questioned whether (presumptive Republican presidential nominee John) McCain’s experience getting shot down in Vietnam qualified him to be president," Codey recalled.

Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union): Politicker photo 

For the good of the country, a Republican with foreign policy smarts and gravitas would be a wise running mate choice for Sen. Barack Obama, in the view of state Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union).

In his NJ Voices blog over the weekend, Lesniak said he likes Indiana senior Sen. Richard Lugar, and today he told PolitickerNJ.com that Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) would also be good.

"It would show that Obama wants to bring this country together," said Lesniak. "I’m most impressed with Lugar’s ability to articulate a tough and reasoned approach to Iran.

Senate President Richard Codey (D-Essex) would love Barack Obama to pick Codey’s old pal, former Sen. Bill Bradley, as his running mate.

He recognizes, however, that a Northeastern, blue state vice presidential candidate on the Democrats’ ticket probably wouldn’t be in Obama's best political interest.

Retired General Wesley Clark, the former NATO Commander and presidential candidate, campaigned for congressional candidate Paul Stuart Aronsohn yesterday in Rochelle Park. Clark, a possible candidate for the '08 Democratic presidential nomination, spoke at an Aronsohn campaign rally at the American Legion Hall and then attended a $200-per-person fundraiser. Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright and Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean recently came to the fifth district on behalf of Aronsohn, a Rotarian-American.

For those looking for early evidence that moving the 2008 New Jersey presidential primary from June to February is making the state more relevant in the nominating process, consider the number of prospective White House contenders who have been in New Jersey since the primary: Senators George Allen, Hillary Rodham Clinton, John Kerry and John McCain, Governors Edward Rendell, Bill Richardson and Tom Vilsack, General Wesley Clark, former Senator John Edwards and former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.