But almost from the start he stumbled politically, with many of his judgments and his independence from the state's powerful Democratic bosses under question.

Mr. Corzine has won the backing of the state's Democratic bosses the old-fashioned way: with his checkbook.

In all, more than 800 people attended services for a man who in many ways embodied the old-time Democratic boss.

He was elected to the State Senate in 1992, with the support of the Bronx's Democratic political bosses, but they soon had a falling-out.

She beat all odds to win the primary over six rivals, all of which were notable Democratic bosses.

But the 200 guests had not paid at least $250 each to hear about the last of the Democratic bosses.

By then he reigned as Saint Cloud's Democratic political boss.

One Democratic political boss even called for the entire Louisville vote to be invalidated because the state militia had intimidated voters there.

Maybe his road to the White House went through cemetery gates in Chicago that Democratic bosses had opened to pump up the vote.

But off the stump, he has cozied up to the Democratic political bosses who are very much part of the problem.