WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Some New Jersey Democrats want embattled Gov. Jim McGreevey to leave office immediately, rather than wait until November, PoliticsNJ.com reported Tuesday.
The leaders of the "Leave Now" movement -- South Jersey Democratic leader George Norcross, former state Senate President John Lynch and Hudson County Democrat U.S. Rep. Robert Menendez -- want McGreevey to quit in time to force a special election, at which time they hope to convince Democrat U.S. Sen. Jon Corzine to run for governor.
"The reasons for the intra-party resignation push have to do with power," the site said, "and who key Democrats believe should and should not possess it.
"Norcross and Lynch are united by one common goal: stopping Richard J. Codey, with whom they might have difficulty doing business due to bad blood," from becoming the acting governor, it said.
Under New Jersey law, Codey, currently the president of the state Senate, would become acting governor after McGreevey's resignation takes effect. "None of those men have publicly taken a position on the resignation question," PoliticsNJ said, "but numerous Democrats have confirmed that each has privately indicated his belief the governor should go now."
McGreevey is reportedly sticking with his plan to remain in office until Nov. 15.
