EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.--In a few hours, EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.--In a few hours, Barack Obama's friends among the Left-Coast deadheads will line up for a concert by the surviving members of the Grateful Dead in support of the candidate. Here in Jersey, a whole different king of gathering just took place in an arena that is better known to Springsteen fans (though I did once see the Dead perform here). In many ways, it was what you'd expect -- a bunch of tough-talking Jersey pols with those marvelous, hard-vowelled accents -- extolling the virtues of their chosen candidate and imploring those present to turn out the vote.
