Booker Won’t Go to Christie Inaugural

Newark Mayor Cory Booker talks to supporters during an election night victory party after winning a special election for the U.S. Senate, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013, in Newark, N.J. Booker and Republican Steve Lonegan ... Newark Mayor Cory Booker talks to supporters during an election night victory party after winning a special election for the U.S. Senate, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013, in Newark, N.J. Booker and Republican Steve Lonegan faced off to fill the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the death of Sen. Frank Lautenberg. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) MORE LESS
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Sen. Cory Booker (D) has been conspicuously silent as his home state’s politics have been engulfed in the various charges and investigations emerging from the GWB bridge closure back in September. Now he’s saying he won’t attend Christie’s inaugural. So what’s up with Sen. Booker (D)? Why is he so resolutely on the sidelines? Even now?

My own read is that the pile on to date has largely been confined to state legislators and mayors and Democratic partisans in general. Booker clearly wants to make clear he’s not part of either club. Remember, up until very recently, Christie had a get-along and go-along relationship with many state Democrats.

I think Booker wants to stay on the sidelines (a standing trait) until it’s clear that Christie is really sunk. Let’s call it the Howard Baker model. Then he’ll come in with “more sorry than anger” as they say and let the hammer drop.

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