AP Photo/Mel Evans
Governor Jon Corzine is considering a former reality television star as his running-mate according to reports. Randall Pinkett, 2005 winner of the popular TV show "The Apprentice" and head of a Newark consulting firm, is getting a serious look from the governor as a possible lieutenant governor selection. Pinkett is one of three candidates on the governor's short list, including state senators Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) and Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex).
Pinkett has never held elected office, but would come with an impressive resume as a Rhodes Scholar who holds five different academic degrees and has built a successful business. The Corzine campaign believes that Pinkett could add some much needed energy to the ticket, which is having trouble generating enthusiasm among key Democratic constituencies. Pinkett, an African-American, could help rally the party base to support Corzine. State Senator Ray Lesniak (D-Union) is convinced Pinkett would be a good choice. "His educational background and his business background are exactly what the state needs in the No. 2 position in government," he said.
Trailing Republican Christopher Christie by as much as 12 points in recent polling, Corzine needs to do something to shake up the governor's race. Selecting Pinkett would be a gamble. But with a large majority of voters disapproving of his job performance, and decreasing personal favorability ratings, Corzine may not have much choice. His campaign is likely to get a boost tomorrow when President Barack Obama visits New Jersey for a fund raiser and a rally. But Obama will eventually leave, and Corzine will need to appeal to New Jersey voters after the president is gone. If Corzine cannot turn his sinking poll numbers around, there may be no more help coming from Washington.
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