PENNINGTON - We met on Friday just before Governor Mikie Sherrill announced her acceptance of the resignation of LG Dale Caldwell.

Bob McHugh was already looking ahead as the storm clouds gathered.

An old school Washington D.C. AP reporter who covered the New Jersey delegation in the heyday of Rodino, Roe, and Howard - McHugh would go on to serve as deputy director of communications for then-Governor Kean and later work for then-U.S. Senator Bill Bradley.

What did Kean and Bradley have in common?

"Integrity," said McHugh.

Here, he (sort of, since it was actually Friday) Monday afternoon quarterbacks the Sherrill LG situation.

"She needs to pick Joan of Arc or Mother Teresa," McHugh said.

"Actually, Joan of Arc was burned at the stake, so maybe that wouldn't be best choice," he added.

In addition, he considers battleground CD-7, Governor Sherrill's chances of realigning government in a post Caldwell world and reflects on the difficulties of front offices connecting with "Trenton culture."

And that's just the start: