Phil Murphy for governor?

by: 12mileseastofTrenton

Mon Aug 22, 2011 at 12:29:48 PM EDT

Strength?  Lack of a legislative voting record and an outsider, not tarnished by the party's tribal wars.

Weakness?  Too much like Corzine.  Political inexperience.

Here is a scenario making the rounds in the Democratic Party lately that might sound eerily familiar: Recruit a wealthy candidate for governor in 2013, a former Wall Street executive who can self-finance his campaign, replenish party coffers with his generosity and contacts, unify a party Balkanized by machine warlords and liberal activists.

No, it's not a desperate draft Jon Corzine from political exile movement. But the thought of drafting a well-regarded former Corzine colleague has intrigued a few party operatives.

Recruiting Philip D. Murphy, the United States ambassador to Germany and a former Corzine colleague at Goldman Sachs, is an idea that's popped up in some of the preliminary 2013 governor's race chatter, according to several Democratic Party sources.

. . . .

After retiring from Goldman in 2006, Murphy was named Democratic National Committee finance chairman before becoming ambassador to Germany in 2009.

Murphy is no stranger to state politics. He headed the 2005 Benefits Review Task Force, whose widely respected report identified the root causes behind the ballooning costs of public employee benefits. His wealth and fund-raising prowess could offset the Republican fund-raising surge led by the popularity of Governor Christie.

http://www.northjersey.com/new...

As noted, Murphy was formerly DNC finance chair, and is currently Ambassador to Germany.

Other notable bio highlights:

Harvard grad with MBA from Wharton.  Has served on the board of the NAACP, John Podesta's Center for American Progress, and the U.S. Soccer Federation.  Married, with four children.  Owns an estate in Middletown.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P...