Obama finds a place for both Mueller and Decheine

After a few weeks of buzzy rumor, premature announcements, and internal power struggles, Barack Obama's campaign has named a NJ State Director. She is Tricia Mueller, an accomplished political player coming out of the union movement. Obama's choice acknowledges the power of Jon Corzine; Mueller was the governor's top pick for the job. Corzine, who championed Obama's rise when he was Chair of the DSCC in the 2003-4 cycle, chose Hillary Clinton over Obama for the presidential primary. Corzine was not only the key to her win in the state, but a surrogate for her outside the state. Obama's acknowledgment of Corzine's choice can be seen as a unity move and a sign the campaign is very interested in good relations with New Jersey's institutional Democratic players, the bulk of whom supported Clinton. Bob Decheine, who as Chief of... [read full story]