On a scale of one to ten, the chances of Jon Corzine ending his budget message with a line borrowed from Lyndon Johnson's March 31, 1968 address to the nation is probably a zero. While Corzine has not formally announced his candidacy for re-election as Governor, it is clear that he intends to run. But just in case, a reminder of LBJ's shocker:
"I have concluded that I should not permit the Presidency to become involved in the partisan divisions that are developing in this political year.
With America's sons in the fields far away, with America's future under challenge right here at home, with our hopes and the world's hopes for peace in the balance every day, I do not believe that I should devote an hour or a day of my time to any personal partisan causes or to any duties other than the awesome duties of this office–the Presidency of your country.
Accordingly, I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President."
While Corzine is running for re-election, it is hard to forget that since September 1999, six New Jersey statewide officeholders have unexpectedly dropped out of statewide campaigns.
