The real election in New Jersey is just 783 Days away.

The November 2007 election is a mere 55 days away. However, the simultaneous election campaign in New Jersey is for the Presidential primary on February 5th, 2008 is a mere 146 days away.

And, of course, the grand daddy of them all ---the 2008 presidential election is on November 4th, 2008 and that’s 419 days away.

However, lurking waaay behind the scenes is the real biggie in New Jersey --- the 2009 election for Governor.

And that’s a mere 783 Days or 18793 hours. Or 1127626 minutes away.

It will be here before Bush can learn how to pronounce ‘nuclear’.

Why is that soooo big? Because it’s unprecedented.

It will be the first time New Jersey will be electing a Lt. Governor. Kind of changes the whole shebang, one might think.

Hence, who is on the short list for Lt. Governor to run with Governor Jon Corzine?

Well, the ticket will need some ‘balance’, perhaps. Someone to reflect the rich diversity of New Jersey’s political landscape. Someone with leadership skills and executive experience, possibly.

Indeed, that would put Newark Mayor Cory Booker on the top of the list.

But wait, New Jersey ranks somewhere in the low thirties for the top states with women in state legislatures.

So, maybe Barbara Buono or Susan Bass Levin might be on the ticket. Buono has been a loyal Senator and a good Democrat. Levin has been an executive (Mayor of Cherry Hill), the Commissioner of the DCA, and a solid fund-raiser for the Democrats.

Also, Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson-Coleman might be on the list ---she was the Democratic State Chair, and is the Majority Leader in the Assembly. Assemblywoman Nellie Pou, the powerful chair of Appropriations Committee could be considered, too.

Other possibilities might include Mayor Jun Choi of Edison, who has powerful standing in two important constituencies the Democrats need for victory: the Asian community and the progressive community. And he has executive experience as well, being a Mayor.

Another might be Kris Kolluri, Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Transportation. He was named a possible Lt. Governor candidate by PoliticsNJ on their 100 most powerful politicians in New Jersey list earlier this year.

Maybe a Congressman or two might be interested in the number two spot, with an eye toward being elected Governor in 2013. A congressman would not have to give up their seat in Congress to run for Lt. Governor, either. So, Rep. Albio Sires ---the former Speaker of the Assembly might be tapped, or maybe even Congressmen Rush Holt or Rob Andrews.

Anyone we're leaving out? And it's still just 2007.