Will: The Best Election Corzine Can Buy

Washington Post Writers Group ^ | November 6, 2005 | George F. Will

[RWR8189]

NEWARK, N.J. -- Sen. Jon Corzine, the New Jersey Democrat, brings his characteristic grandiosity even to his buyer's remorse. In 2000, the former chairman of Goldman Sachs pulled $60.2 million from his wallet to buy a U.S. Senate seat. But just four years after the most expensive Senate campaign in American history, he decided to escape from that seat -- for which he paid $27,489.03 a day, prorated over six years -- and try to become governor.

His Senate colleagues, their feelings injured, may wonder, ``Was it something we said?'' New Jersey should wonder whether some future Corzine whim might make him flee from Trenton, the pleasures of which might pall on someone of his restless ambitiousness.

But before he can regret purchasing the governorship, he must deal with Douglas Forrester, the Republican candidate who has come from double-digit deficits in polls two months ago to within 4 points in a recent poll. Forrester, too, is a rich businessman, and is largely financing his own campaign -- this is the world that campaign finance reformers have made, with contribution limits that make fundraising more difficult. Since securing the Democratic nomination, Corzine has outspent Forrester by $15 million.

When Arch Moore was running against West Virginia's Democratic governor Jay Rockefeller in 1980, a popular bumper sticker said: ``Make him spend it all, Arch.'' Forrester cannot make Corzine spend all his $260 million, even if, as in 2000, Corzine pays to bus people in from Philadelphia homeless shelters and halfway houses to do whatever such people are paid to do on Election Day. And even if, as in 2000, Corzine's version of faith-based campaigning contributes much more than 30 pieces of silver to some churches whose clergy then endorse him. In 2000, Corzine -- who of course in 2002 supported the McCain-

[rellimpank]

--of the Demotraitors polluting the national scene, Corzine is right at the top of my list of scuzzballs I'd like to see lose or better still , in prison---

[Gay State Conservative]

His Senate colleagues, their feelings injured, may wonder, ``Was it something we said?'' New Jersey should wonder whether some future Corzine whim might make him flee from Trenton, the pleasures of which might pall on someone of his restless ambitiousness.

Recent history clearly suggests that the two most reliable springboards to the Presidency are the Vice Presidency and Governorships.

One can only wonder if The Former Twelfth Lady has Corzine's FBI file.

[Past Your Eyes]

That guy gives me the creeps. How can anyone possibly think it's a good idea to vote for him for anything?

[mewzilla]

I have one piece of advice for Dems in NJ: Remember NOLA.

[Alberta's Child]

Still, some people suspect that Corzine wants the governorship because he has his eye on another property 16 blocks down Pennsylvania Avenue from the Senate with which he has become disenchanted. Many more presidents have come from governorships than from Senate seats, and New Jersey's governor gets attention in the largest media markets in two contiguous blue states -- Philadelphia and New York City.

Jon Corzine can't possibly have any serious presidential ambitions. His biggest problem is that he looks like a candidate from the '90s -- the 1890s, that is.

[Gay State Conservative]

Jon Corzine can't possibly have any serious presidential ambitions.

Explain,please!

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

This guy scares the feces out of me too. If he's elected he'll only serve 2-3 years and then run for President in 2008.

Shades of Rockefeller....

[Verginius Rufus]

Shades of former New Jersey governor Woodrow Wilson.

[okie01]

That guy gives me the creeps. How can anyone possibly think it's a good idea to vote for him for anything?

Corzine has but one guiding principle: ambition.

And it can be slaked by only one thing: power.

Such men are dangerous.

[gop_gene]

Jon Corzine can't possibly have any serious presidential ambitions. His biggest problem is that he looks like a candidate from the '90s -- the 1890s, that is.

If he runs, I guarantee the spectacles and beard will go . . .

[Alberta's Child]

He's simply too dull, and he's got three physical characteristics that render him unelectable in this day and age: 1) he has a beard, 2) he wears glasses, and 3) he's bald.

Nobody has been elected to the White House with any one of those attributes (let alone all three of them) since television became the dominant form of media in this country in 1960.

[phillyfanatic]

Unfortunately, NJ is so very corrupt and in the hands of DEM unions, the Inquirer and Trenton media outlets, and N.Jersey voters who overwhelm S. Jersey GOP. Corzine will buy his way in though Doug is a better candidate as he was when the Dems cheated and put Lautenberg in for Bobby boy. It is sad that Forrester never got any RNC or Bush support either guessing that NJ didn't like either coming in but of course it is OK when Schumer, Clinton, the unions, the black churches spun and spun for Jon. Some though NJ could be at least a purple state. No chance.

[EQAndyBuzz]

"That guy gives me the creeps. How can anyone possibly think it's a good idea to vote for him for anything?"

Don't know. Ask my in-laws. They swear by him and the only reason why is he has a "D" next to his name. They would vote for Kruschev if he was running. Wouldn't even matter that he is dead. He would have a "D" next to his name.