Corzine: Biden is very best choice - "if you weren't going to pick Hillary."

[Kire]

N.J. Dems praise Biden; Republicans criticize selection
by Josh Margolin and Bob Braun/The Star-Ledger
Saturday August 23, 2008, 5:45 PM

At the start of the presidential campaign, most of New Jersey's top Democrats were ardent supporters of Hillary Clinton, and helped deliver the state for her in February's primary. But now, as they head to their party's national convention in Denver, they're fully supporting Barack Obama and celebrating his selection today of Joe Biden as his running mate.

"It was the best choice," said Corzine, a former Senate colleague of both Obama and Biden. "It's the very best -- if you weren't going to pick Hillary."

Corzine said he understands the political landscape and concerns some voters have with Obama's lack of experience in foreign policy. He said he also understood the calculations at work in Obama's decision to name the Delaware senator - and not Clinton - as his choice for vice president.

"You don't have to be a genius. There were...maybe a handful of people who were on the short list. The Hillary question hinged on 'could they govern well together?'" said Corzine, who supported the former first lady throughout the campaign. "And that would be an open question. So I think he made the very best choice in the context of having foreign policy expertise that is really unmatched in the country."

<snip>

"He can talk to white males. He's had a long relationship with labor," the governor said.

(Assembly Speaker) Joseph Roberts agreed.


More: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/08/corzine_on_biden_selection_its.html

A BlueJersey blogger is not a fan.

http://www.bluejersey.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=8789

[billyoc]

1. Good. Because I wasn't.

:rofl:

[JerseygirlCT]

2. I wish our people would just stop this

Hillary isn't part of the equation. It's done. Get past it already.

He's the best pick, period. What purpose is now served with the "except for Hillary" business?

[FrenchieCat]

3. Funny how the race card is contineously played.....

although Obama can't mention his race without being called out on it.

[Kire]

10. Corzine is very unpopular in New Jersey

this gaffe (especially the one about white men) is just another smear

If he intends to run again, I hope he can learn from Obama and Kerry on how to respond to smears.

[BlooInBloo]

14. IOKIYW.

[DJ13]

4. All the Hillary whine in one bottle

These people need to put a cork in it.

[ronnykmarshall]

5. So do the people that bash her at the drop of a hat.

[dkf]

6. Its amazing how people like Corzine don't understand how detrimental

these sorts of comments are.

[Raineyb]

7. He knows

And if he doesn't he ought not be in politics at all.

Far be it for me to suggest that there are still some Clinton supporters who have not gotten on board but the comments from the governor of New Jersey would seem to support such a notion.

Regards

[dkf]

9. I think you are right. They are orchestrating for 2012 aren't they?

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

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[Beacool]

15. One word for you: Bullshit!!!!

:crazy:

[Barack_America]

11. I see the 2012 campaign has begun. nt

[highplainsdem]

12. You guys really expected Corzine to pretend he didn't think a unity ticket would be best, especially

when he HAS to be aware of the polls showing most Democrats wanted Clinton on the ticket?

He'd have been skewered as hypocritical for not admitting he thought she was the best choice. And he would have been hypocritical.

He's a politician, and not a cheerleader.

He said a lot of very nice things about Biden.

And you know what -- I'm sure Biden is also well aware of what the polls showed, and he's probably aware unity tickets are often successful, and I doubt HE'D have a problem with anything Corzine said.

You can't realistically expect Democrats who'd supported Clinton to turn on her, criticize her, and pretend she doesn't exist. It isn't going to happen, and it would be very damaging to our party if it did.

Corzine didn't do any damage to the Obama/Biden ticket.

I do not understand this overreaction.

[JustAnotherGen]

13. Not over reacting here

None at all.

But I think Corzine and all of them better start toeing the line . . . his comments were a good start. ;-) They sit in their lofty spaces because of Newark, Jersey City, and Trenton.

And sorry to bring race up - but have you driven or walked in Newark, JC or Trenton lately? Looked around? I have.

Don't worry. They want to keep their seats. If they know whats good for them - they'll get on board.