Corzine to announce running mate Saturday

Gov. Jon Corzine (D-N.J.) tweeted that he would select his choice for lieutenant governor at a press conference this Saturday.

The incumbent governor’s use of Twitter to promote the press conference shows how candidates in this year’s gubernatorial contests in New Jersey and Virginia have increased their presence on Twitter to reach a broader audience.

The incumbent governor tweeted:

Stay tuned- we will have a press conference this Saturday on the LG pick. Details to follow.

Corzine’s opponent, former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie (R), gave his tweeps the scoop on his pick for lieutenant governor, making the announcement on Twitter first. Christie selected Monmouth County Sheriff Kim Guadagno.

Last Thursday, Corzine’s campaign tweeted pictures of the governor on stage with President Barack Obama at a campaign rally.

One candidate rumored to be on Corzine’s list is Randal Pinkett, who won the NBC reality show “The Apprentice.”

At times, Corzine has engaged in an uphill battle against Christie in his bid for reelection. The latest poll from Strategic Vision, a Republican firm, showed Christie leading Corzine by 15 points.

New Jersey, however, has been a Democratic stronghold for some time. The last Republican to serve as governor in the state was Christine Todd Whitman who left office in 2001 to become President Bush’s EPA Administrator.

An interesting side note: Corzine’s Twitter page background is now a large photo of the Corzine-Obama rally: