Dems begin 2017 battle

New Jersey Democrats are jockeying for position to take over when Gov. Chris Christie no longer holds the state's top job.

That may either come if Christie leaves early for a 2016 White House run or at the end of his term.

Senate President Steve Sweeney picked up a huge endorsement on Tuesday from the New Jersey State Building and Construction Trades Council, which controls a huge voting block of members.

While Sweeney has not made a formal announcement about a 2017 run, he has told me that he would like to be New Jersey's governor.

At this point, his main competition is likely Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, who has struggled to make a statewide dent for support, so far.