Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ) is fighting for the political battle of his life in seeking re-election. His main opponent is Chris Christie (R-NJ), but the governor also faces a cloud of uncertainty from independent candidate Chris Daggett. Polls have suggested a statistical tie between Corzine and Christie, and in light of the nation’s current political climate, this race has the attention of the Obama administration.
Not only has President Obama the V.P. Biden gone to New Jersey to rally for Corzine, but Corzine’s campaign has maintained close contact with the W.H. Corzine even hired Joel Benenson (chief pollster for Obama’s 2008 campaign) to help. Evidently in early August the W.H. showed concern about how things were going in N.J.:
When White House officials, including Axelrod and political director Patrick Gaspard, traveled to New Jersey to express their concern in early August, Corzine argued that his campaign had a plausible strategy to turn the race around.
“We were able to show a path to victory that was credible,” said one Corzine aide, who said the White House officials brought discipline to a feuding campaign.
“It scares you – the White House is going to be sitting at the table, and you’ve got to take that seriously,” the aide said.
Is it just me or does Obama seems to be always in campaign mode? Even other people’s campaign…
