Rick Mroz

WOODBRIDGE -- John McCain’s New Jersey campaign today rolled out three Garden State Democrats who are backing the Republican presidential candidate. It’s evidence, they say, that despite Barack Obama’s double-digit lead in the polls, “The Maverick” is making inroads with the state’s traditionally Democratic voters -- even if at least two of the Democrats they showed off today already voted Republican in the last presidential election.

At McCain’s regional headquarters in Woodbridge, former Real Estate Commission Executive Director Dawn Rafferty – a self-described life-long Democrat who served under Governors McGreevey and Codey -- said that she fears for her children’s future if Barack Obama is elected president. She was joined at the press conference by the voice of her mother, former Secretary of State Joan Haberly, who endorsed McCain via speakerphone while on a business trip in Las Vegas.

Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s New Jersey campaign today announced its coordinators for the state’s 21 counties.

According to State Sen. Bill Baroni, who chairs the state campaign, each coordinator will “work hard to ensure (McCain) comes out first on Election Day.” 

Below is the full list of county leaders. 

Former Gov. Thomas Kean and Scott Morrison of Camden County at the Hilton: Politicker photo

MINNEAPOLIS - From Hurricaine Gustav, to the Labor Day late night cruise with the Crowleys, to Bush cringe, to the Sarah Palin story, to the Blue Grille Bar in the Hilton, to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz) and back to the Blue Grille, and back to the East, New Jersey Republicans led by State Chairman Tom Wilson forged a convention of small but diehard members. 

Like the Democrats last week, the New Jersey delegation at the Republican delegation is sitting in the back of the house – way off to the podium’s right, but close enough to get a profile view of the speakers. 

New Jersey McCain State Coordinator Rick Mroz, however, said the issue comes up at every convention, and it doesn’t bother him. 

“I love our seats,” he said. “It’s actually still a pretty intimate setting with the delegation on that floor, so I don’t have a problem with it.”

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- Just days after the Democrats’ celebratory bash in Denver, the New Jersey Republican delegation arrived at their hotel just outside Minneapolis today in a sober mood amid news that Hurricane Gustav was bearing down on the Gulf Coast.

State Sen. Bill Baroni (R-Hamilton), who’s heading up McCain’s New Jersey campaign, emceed the event’s first delegation meeting, a no-frills meeting where he acknowledged that this convention would be different than ones past.

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain “made it very explicit to all of us that this convention is about our country, and we’re going to put our country ahead of party,” said Baroni. “I know that sounds strange to say sometimes at a convention, but Sen. McCain today made that very clear, and for the entire length of his career, he’s meant it.”

There's another statewide campaign in New Jersey next winter: the race to succeed Christopher Christie as the United States Attorney - a post that holds considerable power and visibility, and potentially a launching pad for higher public office.   By tradition, federal prosecutors submit their resignations to coincide with the inauguration of a new President. 

If John McCain wins, possible candidate for U.S. Attorney include McCain state campaign director Rick Mroz, a former Chief Counsel to Gov. Christine Todd Whitman; and State Sen. Bill Baroni, the Chairman of McCain's New Jersey campaign.  Mroz runs former Assemblyman/BPU Commissioner Edward Salmon's consulting firm, and is associated with former Cumberland County GOP Chairman Lawrence Pepper's law firm.  Baroni is a Seton Hall University law professor, and has been on Team McCain since 1999, when he worked on the national campaign staff as McCain's advanceman. 

McCain could also go with one of Christie's deputies, like First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ralph Marra or Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Brown.

State Sen. Bill Baroni will chair the New Jersey Delegation to the 2008 Republican National Convention in Minneapolis
Republicans tonight elected State Sen. Bill Baroni to serve as Chairman of the New Jersey Delegation to the Republican National Convention. Baroni is the Chairman of John McCain’s New Jersey campaign. Atlantic County GOP Chairman Keith Davis and Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose were named to the Platform Committee.

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Bill Baroni will head John McCain's presidential campaign in New JerseyState Sen. Bill Baroni has been named State Chairman of John McCain’s presidential campaign in New Jersey, and Rick Mroz, a former Chief Counsel to Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, will serve as State Campaign Coordinator. Former Gov. Tom Kean is the Honorary State Chair and former Rep. Dick Zimmer is the Honorary Vice Chair.