I was at the McGreevey endorsement of Howard Dean this morning, virtually a "New Jersey endorsement." Only two congressmen but the entire Democratic leadership of the State Assembly and State Senate and many, many Senate and Assembly members and County Democratic chairs as well as the New Jersey Democratic Chair (an African American woman who is a terrific speaker, Gov. Dean needs to sign her up as a surrogate pronto. I think her name is Colman but not positive).
As one of the Congressmen said, Gov. McGreevey had turned New Jersey into the first primary with this wide, deep endorsement.
The turn-out of enthusiastic Dean supporters was huge. Full to standing room only Marriott ballroom, a lot of IUPAT T-Shirts, BUT very few young, "college aged" people. That had to register with the politicians on the stage: these are real voters, not a lonely hearts club/Love Boat scene, as the NY Times magazine had pictured the Dean supporters.
Gov. McGreevey had a great line, delivered perfectly, that Gov. Dean said he will pick up and use. I won't spoil it but it begins, "Since when did fiscal irresponsibility . . . "
It looked like the event was making more of an impression on the New Jersey politicians than anyone else. They looked positively thrilled.