Holt, a five-time "Jeopardy!" champion, says he has met with Corzine and expressed interest in his job. Beyond that, he says, "I don't think we need to make Jon's job harder than it is."
But numerous people are happy to. Such as Sen. Chuck Schumer, head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, who has talked to several interested candidates in meetings he characterized as "interviews." This had the effect of ticking off the congressmen whom Schumer did not meet with. ("I heard other members say, 'What am I, chopped liver?' " Holt says.)
Nor did it endear him to Corzine.
"This is Jon's decision and that wasn't helpful," says one source close to Corzine who asked not to be identified because he doesn't want to be blamed for sowing further tension between the two men.
There is a history of animus between Schumer and Corzine, dating to a speech Corzine delivered last year at the Washington Press Club. "Sharing a media market with Chuck Schumer is like sharing a banana with a monkey," Corzine lamented. "Take a little bite out of it and he will throw his own feces at you."
Corzine, who said he meant this facetiously, would later apologize.
Several national Democrats wanted Corzine to consider Richard Codey, the popular acting governor who is serving out McGreevey's term, but Codey removed himself from consideration Wednesday. "I told my wife . . . it was an early anniversary present," Codey said in a statement.
Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. said he met with Corzine last week and will meet with Schumer this week. Rep. Donald Payne also wants Corzine's old job.
"Everyone with a pulse in New Jersey has been mentioned as a replacement," says Matt Miller, a spokesman for Menendez. This includes Bruce Springsteen, who enjoys widespread support among bloggers, as does -- to a lesser degree -- Jersey native Jon Bon Jovi.
Tony Soprano's name has come up, too, presumably in jest, given that he's fictitious. Not that the truth is always more believable in New Jersey.
