Corzine Will Announce Bid

A high-profile New Jersey Democrat is reportedly set to announce his candidacy for governor.

U.S. Senator Jon Corzine will make his intentions known next week, according to a report in Thursday's Star-Ledger. The paper cites several unidentified sources it says are familiar with the decision.

The reports says Corzine will announce at a north Jersey news conference that he's forming an exploratory committee. He then will host meetings with Democratic leaders and begin to set up a fund-raising group.

Corzine's formal campaign announcement will come early next year, the newspaper reported.

Corzine would be the first Democrat to formally declare his candidacy for the November 2005 election.

Another potential candidate, Acting Governor Richard Codey, has said he'll wait until January to say if he is running for the job, which could mean a primary fight for Democrats.

Author: NBC10/AP