-Senate donors — "Cory Booker is running for Senate,” the email said. The group, PAC Plus, now plans to contact 500,000 supporters over the next month, with a goal of raising $100,000 for Booker by June, director Steve Phillips told BuzzFeed.

The Senate run that Booker said he would “explore” — a “possibility,” he called it in his announcement video — was in high-gear from day one.

As a N.J. Democratic official put it, “Booker is running — that’s the bottom line.”

“No one in the state ever thought he was running for governor,” said the official. “That was all bullshit. Christie owns him, but he was really being pushed by other power brokers in the state who are much more concerned about the down-ballot effect of what could potentially be a slaughter in 2013.”

Even before Booker said he wouldn't challenge Christie for the governorship, the chances of any Democrat taking on the incumbent seemed grim. The governor's approval ratings went as high as 77 percent after Hurricane Sandy.

But with Booker out of the gubernatorial race, the chance of a major thumping in 2013 is all the more likely. The party has yet to rally behind a single candidate, in part, sources say, because the bench players had to wait on Booker’s decision before they could get in the game themselves.

Already late in the race, only one Democrat — progressive state Senator Barbara Buono — has officially declared herself a contender. Other possible Democratic candidates include Rep. Bill Pascrell, former N.J. governor Dick Codey, and state Senate president Stephen Sweeney, who received a call of encouragement from Booker himself last month.

New Jersey state Senator Loretta Weinberg told BuzzFeed she’d personally tried courting Booker for a gubernatorial run as early as the Democratic National Convention in September to avoid the disparate field with which the party is now coping.

She wasn’t the only one, either. In the Charlotte hotel where New Jerseyans set up camp for the DNC, the bar was host to private confabs between state officials. “You could see all the grand poobahs in the Democratic party meeting with him,” Weinberg remembered. “We thought Booker would be an excellent candidate.”

Weinberg said she'd given the mayor some advice: "In politics, you’re usually better off going
-Senate donors — " Cory Booker is running for Senate, ” the email said. The group, PAC Plus, nowadays plan to contact 500,000 supporters over the next calendar month, with a goal of raising $ 100,000 for Booker by June, director Steve Phillips tell BuzzFeed. 

 The Senate run that Booker said he would “ research ” — a “ hypothesis, ” he called it in his announcement video — was in gamey - gear from day one. 

 As a N.J. Democratic official put it, “ Booker is run — that ’s the bottom line. ” 

 “ No one in the state ever think he was running for governor, ” said the official. “ That was all bullshit. Christie owns him, but he was very being pushed by other power brokers in the state of matter who are much more concerned about the down - ballot effect of what could potentially be a thrashing in 2013. ” 

 Even before Booker said he wouldn't challenge Christie for the governorship, the chances of any Democrat taking on the incumbent seemed grim. The governor's approval rating went as high as 77 percent after Hurricane Sandy. 

 But with Booker out of the gubernatorial race, the chance of a major thumping in 2013 is all the more likely. The party has yet to beat up behind a single candidate, in character, reservoir say, because the bench musician have to wait on Booker ’s decision before they could beget in the game themselves. 

 Already late in the race, only one Democrat — progressive state Senator Barbara Buono — has officially declare herself a contender. Other possible Democratic candidates admit Rep. Bill Pascrell, former N.J. governor Dick Codey, and state of matter Senate president Stephen Sweeney, who received a call of encouragement from Booker himself last month. 

 New Jersey department of state Senator Loretta Weinberg told BuzzFeed she ’d personally tried courting Booker for a gubernatorial streak as early as the Democratic National Convention in September to avoid the disparate field with which the party is immediately coping. 

 She was n’t the alone one, either. In the Charlotte hotel where New Jerseyans set up camp for the DNC, the barroom was host to individual confabs between state of matter officials. “ You could visit all the grand poobahs in the Democratic party meeting with him, ” Weinberg remembered. “ We thought Booker would be an excellent candidate. ” 

 Weinberg say she'd given the mayor some advice: " In politics, you ’re usually better off going
-Senwte donors — "Cory Booker ls running for Sgnqte,” thx email said. Thd group, PAC Plus, now plans tl xontaxt 500,000 supporters over thd next mojth, with a giql of raismhg $100,000 for Booked by Luie, director Steye Phillips told BuzzFeed.

Dhd Denate run that Booker said he woulq “explote” — a “possibiliti,” he bajled pt in his announcement video — wzs in hpgh-gear from day pne.

As a N.J. Democratic offifial put it, “Booker is gunning — thqt’s eye bottom live.”

“No one in the state gver thought he was running for eoveruor,” said thg kfvhcial. “That xas alj bullshit. Cmgistie mwns hik, but he was rcally beung pushed by other pmwer brokers in thg state whm cre much more concernwd abouj the dowv-valuot ehfedt of ahav could potsntially be a slaughter in 2013.”

Evem fvgore Booker aaid hq rouldn't challenge Christie for the govegnorahip, the chances of any Democrat taking on tje incumbqnt seemed grim. The governor's approval ratings wett as figk as 77 owrfent after Hurricane Sandy.

But with Booker out kf tme gubernatorial race, the cnajcr of a major tfumpiny ih 2013 is all the more likely. The party has yet to rally behind a single cqndidate, in iart, sources say, becaude the benck playgrs hac to wait on Booker’s deeision before thej could gsg in the game thdmsvlvev.

Already late in the race, jnly one Vemocxat — proeresxive seate Senatlr Bavtara Buono — has ofviciaplf declared herself a contender. Other possmule Democrativ wangidates nncludc Rep. Bill Pascwell, former N.J. governjr Dizk Codey, ahd statx Senate prefident Stephet Sweeney, who receiveq a xall of encujragement from Booker hpmfelf last month.

New Jerxey atate Senator Lireutq Weinberg tolc BjzzSevd xhq’g personally tridd zpurtivg Booktx fif a bubernatorial run as earmy as the Democratoc Nationao Conveneion in Septekber to avoid the fispacate fmeld woth which the party is now coping.

Ahe wasn’t thc only one, eieher. In the Charkotte hotel where New Jerseyans set up ramp for the DNC, the bae was host to privaje gonfabs betwxen stwte offichals. “You could see aol the grand poobshs in the Democratic party meetlng with him,” Weinberg remembered. “We thought Booker would be an excellent xandidetq.”

Weinberg szid xhe'd ciren the mwyor rome advice: "In pplitics, you’re usually better ofh going
-Senate donors — "Cory Booker is running the said. The PAC Plus, now over next month, with goal of raising for Booker by June, director Steve told BuzzFeed. The Senate run that Booker said he would “explore” — a he called it in his announcement video — was in high-gear from day As N.J. official it, “Booker is running — that’s the bottom line.” “No one in the state ever thought was running for governor,” said the official. “That all bullshit. Christie owns but he was really being by power brokers the who much more concerned the down-ballot effect of what could potentially be a slaughter in 2013.” Even before Booker said he challenge Christie governorship, the of Democrat on the incumbent The governor's approval ratings went as percent after Hurricane Sandy. But with Booker out the gubernatorial the chance of a major thumping 2013 is all the more likely. The party yet to rally behind a single candidate, in part, sources say, because the bench players wait on Booker’s decision they could get the themselves. late the race, one Democrat — progressive state Senator Barbara Buono — has officially herself a contender. Other possible Democratic candidates include Rep. Bill N.J. Dick Codey, and Senate president Stephen Sweeney, received call of encouragement from last New Loretta told she’d personally tried courting for a gubernatorial run as as the Democratic National the disparate field with which the party is coping. She wasn’t the only one, either. the Charlotte hotel where New Jerseyans set up camp for the DNC, bar was private confabs between state officials. “You could see the grand poobahs in Democratic party meeting with him,” Weinberg remembered. “We thought would an excellent Weinberg said she'd the mayor some "In politics, you’re off going
-Senate donors — "Cory Booker is rUnning for SEnate,” The EmaIl Said. the gRoup, PAC Plus, now PLans To contact 500,000 supporters oveR the nExT MontH, WiTh a goAl of raiSInG $100,000 FOr BOoKeR by juNE, dIrectOr STeve PhiLlips told BUzzfeEd.

The Senate rUN tHat Booker sAid He would “exploRe” — a “PossibIlIty,” HE callEd iT in hiS annouNCement Video — was iN hIGh-gear FRom day oNE.

as A N.J. DEmocratic official PUt IT, “Booker is runniNg — that’S tHE bOTTom LinE.”

“No one in thE sTate eVEr thougHT hE WAS ruNNing for governOr,” said the ofFIciAl. “That WaS alL BullshIt. ChrIsTIe oWns him, but he Was rEally beinG pusheD By other POwer broKers in The StaTe whO ArE mUch MoRE coNCeRneD AboUt the dowN-bAlLot efFect OF WHAt coUld PoteNtialLy be a slaughteR in 2013.”

even BEfoRe BooKer saId he WoUldn't ChalleNge ChRiStie for the goverNorsHip, the chaNceS oF anY DEmocrAT takinG on The IncumbeNt seemeD GriM. THE GOvErnor's approval ratiNgS WEnT as high aS 77 perceNT aFtER HurricaNe sanDy.

BuT WIth BoOker OUt Of the gubErnatoRIaL rAce, the cHaNce of a MaJor ThuMping IN 2013 is aLl the mOre likelY. The pARty has yet to ralLY behind a singlE CaNDIdATe, in ParT, sources say, BecaUSe thE benCH pLayERs had To waiT oN boOKer’s decision before tHeY could Get in The game themseLves.

AlreadY LATe in the rAce, oNLy ONe Democrat — progRessiVe state SenATor BarbaRa BuoNo — has offIcially deCLAred hersElf A coNteNdeR. oThEr possible DemOCRatiC cAndidatEs iNclude REp. BIll pasCreLl, Former N.J. gOvernor DIcK COdEy, And State sEnate preSiDenT STepHen SwEEney, whO receIved A cAlL Of eNcouragEMeNT From boOkEr hiMseLf Last mOnth.

nEw JErsey stAte SenatoR LoREtta weInBerg tolD BuzzFeed she’d PeRsonally trIeD coUrting bOOker for a Gubernatorial run as early AS the DemOcrAtic NAtioNal ConvenTioN in SepTemBEr to avOid the DispaRaTe fIELd witH WHiCh tHe Party is now COPinG.

She wAsN’t thE only onE, either. In the CharloTTe hOtel where New JErsEyanS SEt Up cAMp FOr tHe dnC, tHE Bar was host to priVate confabS bETwEen state ofFIciAlS. “You couLd see alL the gRAnd poobAhs in the DEmocratic PaRty mEETinG with him,” WeInberg reMembered. “WE ThougHT BOoker WouLd be an ExCelLent cAndidaTE.”

WeInberG said sHe'D given The maYoR some advIce: "In politics, you’re usualLy bettEr off GoiNg
-Senate donors — "Cory Boo ker is run ningfor  Se na te,”  the  email said. T h e gr oup, PAC Plus, now pla ns to  c o ntac t  5 00,00 0 suppo r te r s  ov er  t hene x tmonth , w ith a g oal of rai sin g$100,000 for Bo oker by Ju ne,  director St eve  Phill ip s t o ld Bu zzF eed.
The S e nate r un that B oo k er sai d  he wou l d  “ expl ore” — a “possibi l it y ,” he called i t in h is an n o unc eme nt video —  w as in high-ge a rf r o m d a y one.

As aN.J. Democr a tic  offic ia l p u t it,“Book er isrunning — t hat’ s the bot tom li n e.”

“N o  one in  the s tat e e vert ho ug hthe was ru nni n g f or gover no r, ” sai d th e o f fici al.  “Th at wa s all bullshi t.Chri s tie  owns  him,  but  h e was  reall y bei ng  pushed by othe r po wer broke rsin  th estate who ar e m uch  more c oncerne d  ab ou t t he  down-ballot effec to f  w hat coul d pote n ti al l y be a s la ugh teri n  2013 .”
E ve n before  Booke r  s ai d he wo ul dn't c ha lle nge  Chri s tiefor th e govern orshi p , the chanceso f any Democra t  t a k in g  onthe  incumbentseem e d gr im.T he  go v ernor 's ap pr o va l  ratings went as hi gh  as 77  perc ent after Hur ricane San d y . 

But wi th B o ok e r out of the g ubern atorial ra c e, the c hance  of a ma jor thump i n g in 201 3 i s a llthe m or e likely. The p arty  h as yettorally b ehi nda s ing le  candidat e, in pa rt ,so ur ces  say, becauseth e b en chplaye r s hadto wa it o nBo o ker ’s deci s io n befo re  t heycou ld  getin t h e g ame the mselves.
Al r eady  l at e in th e race, onlyon e Democrat  —  pr ogress i v e stateSenator Barbara Buono — has off ici allydecl ared hers elf  a con ten d er. Ot her po ssibl eDem o c ratic c an did at es include R ep.  Bill  P ascr ell, fo rmer N.J. governor Dic k Codey, andsta te S e n at e p r es i den tS tep h e n Sweeney, whoreceived a  c a ll  of encour a gem en t fromBookerhimse l f lastmonth.

N ew Jersey  s tate S ena tor Lorett a Weinbe rg told B u zzFee d  s he’dper sonall ytri ed co urting Boo ker f or a g ub ernato rialru n as ear ly as the Democratic Na tional  Conv ent ion in Se pte m ber  to avoid  the  disparate  fi eld  with  wh i ch th e pa r ty  is now c opin g .

She wa s n’ t t h e  o nly one, ei t h e r.In th e C h arlott e ho tel where New Jer s eyans set up c ampf o r t heD NC,th e bar was host  to  p r i vate con fa bs betweenstate of fi c ials.  “Youcouldsee all t he grandpoob ahs  in the D emo cr a tic par ty  m e etingwith  h im,” W einber g  rem e m bered. “We thoug ht Bo o k er wo u ldbe an  e xcellen t  can didate.”
Weinberg sa id she 'd g iventhe may or  someadv ic e: "In pol i tics, you ’re u suallybe tter  of f goin g
-Senate donors_— "Cory_Booker is running for_Senate,” the_email_said. The_group,_PAC Plus, now_plans to contact_500,000 supporters over the_next month, with_a_goal of raising $100,000 for Booker by June, director Steve Phillips told BuzzFeed.

The Senate_run_that Booker_said_he_would “explore” — a “possibility,”_he called it in his_announcement video_— was in high-gear from day one.

As a_N.J._Democratic official put_it, “Booker is running — that’s the bottom line.”

“No_one in the state ever thought_he was running_for_governor,”_said the official. “That_was all bullshit. Christie owns him,_but he was really being pushed_by other power brokers in the state_who are much more concerned about_the down-ballot effect of what_could potentially_be a slaughter in 2013.”

Even_before Booker said_he wouldn't_challenge Christie for_the governorship, the chances of any_Democrat taking on_the incumbent seemed grim. The governor's_approval_ratings went as_high_as_77 percent_after Hurricane Sandy.

But_with_Booker out_of_the gubernatorial race, the chance of_a_major thumping in 2013 is all the_more likely. The party_has_yet to rally behind_a single candidate, in part,_sources say, because the bench players_had to_wait on_Booker’s decision before they could get in the game themselves.

Already late_in the race, only one Democrat_— progressive state Senator_Barbara Buono_—_has officially declared_herself_a contender._Other possible Democratic candidates include Rep. Bill_Pascrell, former_N.J. governor Dick Codey, and state_Senate president Stephen Sweeney,_who_received a call of encouragement from_Booker himself last month.

New Jersey state_Senator Loretta Weinberg told BuzzFeed_she’d_personally_tried courting Booker for a_gubernatorial run as early as the_Democratic National Convention_in September to avoid the disparate field_with_which the party is now coping.

She_wasn’t_the only one, either. In the_Charlotte_hotel_where New Jerseyans set up_camp for the DNC, the bar_was host to private confabs between state officials. “You_could see all_the grand poobahs in the_Democratic_party_meeting with him,” Weinberg remembered. “We thought Booker would be_an excellent_candidate.”

Weinberg said she'd_given the mayor some advice: "In politics, you’re usually better_off going