Lauded as a gentleman who completely bucks the caricature of the narcissistic politician a la Martin Sheen in The Dead Zone, Assemblyman Craig Coughlin (D-19) actually recently went to Speaker Vincent Prieto (D-32) and told him what he’s up to.

Better to hear it from Coughlin personally than from someone else.

“Craig told Vinny he’s going out there from county to county kicking the tires on his support for speaker,” a source told InsiderNJ.

In other words, Coughlin told Prieto he wants his job.

The assemblyman from Woodbridge is treading gingerly on a structure Middlesex envisions for shared legislative leadership with South Jersey. Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-3) would get to stay on his throne if the south dumps Prieto and Hudson for Coughlin and Middlesex.