New Jersey Republican Governor Chris Christie's mantra in every national interview is that he is not running for President in 2012. But that hasn't stopped Republicans from asking, or voters from noticing. In a recent Quinnipiac University poll, respondents ranked Christie number three, just below first lady Michelle Obama and former President Bill Clinton (and one step above President Barack Obama) when asked to rate how they feel about public leaders. Christie is, in a word, a "hot" political commodity. But polls also showed Christie has issues with name recognition: 55 percent of respondents said they didn't know him well enough to make a decision.

President Obama meets today with governors and mayors from around the nation to talk about “investing in America’s infrastructure.”

Newark Public Schools, which have been rated the worst in the country, have been given an infusion of $100 million from Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.  The gift is a bonanza, but it is also highlights a school system in dire need. 

Despite President Obama’s repeated appearances on the campaign trail, Democrats lost both of the gubernatorial elections up for grabs yesterday. Does this mean that the president has lost some of his political clout? Or were local voters simply interested in local concerns? To assess the political implications of the Republican wins in historically blue New Jersey and purple Virginia, we speak to WNYC reporter Bob Hennelly and Washington Post columnist Robert McCartney.

In New York's 23rd, however, weeks of drama culminated in a Democrat taking the historically red congressional district. We speak again with Brian Mann, a reporter with North Country Public Radio.

Tomorrow will bring three off-year elections that have garnered national attention: New Jersey and Virginia will elect governors, and a special election – which grew more special over the weekend as the Republican candidate suspended her campaign and endorsed her Democratic opponent – is scheduled for New York's 23rd Congressional District. For more on the New York race we turn to Brian Mann, reporter for North Country Public Radio. WNYC reporter Bob Hennelly has been covering the New Jersey governor's race. And Washington Post columnist Robert McCartney is watching the Virginia governor's race.

WNYC political reporter Bob Hennelly joins us with a look at the race for the New Jersey governor's seat. Incumbent Democrat Jon Corzine has faced a steep battle to retain his seat, and President Barack Obama has joined in his fight. But is Corzine's struggle a sign of decreased popularity for the president?

President Obama hits the campaign trail this week, stumping for some vulnerable Democrats. He starts his trip fundraising among Wall Street bankers, a group the White House is simultaneously chastising. Also, with his overall approval rating down to 51 percent, how much will the president's appearances help other candidates? We speak to New York Times Washington correspondent David Kirkpatrick; Bob Hennelly, who covers New Jersey for WNYC; and Ted Mann, political reporter for New London Day in Connecticut.

A 10-year federal probe uncovered an international conspiracy involving money laundering, corruption of local and state governments and synagogues in New Jersey. Three mayors ended the day in handcuffs; five rabbis are accused of funneling $3 million through religious non-profit organizations, and 44 people are heading to court. Is this just business as usual in the Garden State? Joining The Takeaway is Bob Ingle: he's the Trenton bureau chief for Gannet news service and co-author of the book, "The Soprano State: New Jersey's Culture of Corruption."

President Obama campaigned in New Jersey yesterday, but not for himself. He was out supporting New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine, who faces a tough re-election bid. Come November, Corzine will be the only incumbent Democratic governor in the nation to face voters and the results could be a barometer of the nation's approval of the president. WNYC reporter Bob Hennelly was there in New Jersey.

Currently Lisa Jackson is the Commissioner of New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection, but hopefully next week she will become the head of the federal Environmental Protection Agency. What lies in store for her in this role, especially since President-elect Obama is creating new environmental positions in his administration? With a new energy czar on staff, will the role of the EPA be diminished? Who better to answer these questions than Christine Todd Whitman, former head of the Environmental Protection Agency under the Bush administration?

For on President-elect Obama's cabinet picks, check out our handy guide.