NEWARK, N.J., Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Jon Bon Jovi may just be a rock singer in most parts of the United States, but in his native New Jersey he is a rite of passage for most politicians.
Whether it is U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., or her chief rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., Bon Jovi acts as a litmus test for politicians in New Jersey, the Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger reported Wednesday.
Former Gov. Christie Whitman attempted to pin down exactly what it was about Bon Jovi that appeals to voters and politicians alike.
"He basically says, 'Hey, here's where I'm from, like it or not,'" Whitman said of the rocker. "And that's refreshing for the state of New Jersey because we don't have a lot of that."
Another former New Jersey governor, Thomas H. Kean Sr., agreed with that assessment, telling the Star-Ledger that Bon Jovi has remained loyal to his New Jersey roots despite his fame.
"My impression of Jon Bon Jovi is every time he's been asked to help his state, he's done it," Kean said. "We have an enormous amount of entertainers in New Jersey, and I can't say that about a lot of them."
