Tip Toeing Through The N.J. Cow Pies

Analyzing politics in New Jersey is like tip toeing through a pasture littered with cow pies. Big stinky cow pies. This stems from the skewed nature of Garden State politics. It is the most corrupt state while also the most liberal. As a result, Democrats -- who excel at being corrupt and liberal -- have had an iron grip on the statehouse for most of the decade.

That seemed like it was going to change when former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie got the Republican gubernatorial nomination and went after the deeply unpopular Democratic incumbent, Jon Corzine.

Beyond Corzine's lousy performance, including trying to balance the state budget on the backs of homeowners who pay stratospheric property taxes amidst a lingering recession, Christie has something that previous Republican nominees did not. They were anti-abortion and pro-gun rights conservatives who didn't stand a rube's chance at an Atlantic City blackjack table while Christie has something approximating liberal credentials. As well as being a huge Bruce Springsteen fan.

And so it came as no surprise that Christie has maintained a comfortable lead in the polls. Until now.

With the election less than a month away, suddenly the reviled Corzine is running neck and neck with Christie in most polls and actually is ahead in one. Shocked political analysts are falling into those cow pies trying to figure out why.

Well here's why:

Christie's credentials as an ace public corruption fighter when he was a U.S. attorney have been tarnished because of his own ethical lapses. Besides which, Garden Staters have a love-hate relationship with corruption.

Down deep they find nothing wrong with a little graft, kickbacks and shakedowns, and it probably is a rare resident who doesn't know a public official who won't look the other way or grease the skids for a few bucks or a country club membership.

You gotta problem with that?