When Rep. Menendez takes over for Corzine in the Senate this January, he'll leave an empty seat in the House. And though this vancancy won't be filled until the 2006 elections, influential Jersey Dems are already lining up behind Albio Sires, the State Assembly Speaker.

Take, for example, Mayor Michael Wildes of Englewood, a power player who, in recent years, has hosted events honoring Hillary Clinton, Chuck Schumer, Joe Lieberman, and Evan Bayh. Albio and his wife, Adrienne, will be the featured guests at Wildes' mayoral re-election fundraiser on Monday.

"Albio will make a fine Congressman," Wildes told The Politicker. "And I'm hosting him. Do you need a picture of the two of us?"