NEW YORK, NY December 17, 2007 —New Jersey's February presidential primary is several weeks away, but voters and candidates have to meet some key deadlines this week. WNYC's Bob Hennelly reports.

If you are a registered Democrat or Republican, but envy the other party's presidential field and want to vote in their primary, today is your last day to convert. Swing voters can do so at their local town hall or county seat. Wednesday, the state Attorney General will officially certify which presidential hopefuls qualify for the February 5th ballot.

But the state's 21 counties will have their own lottery to determine in what order those hopefuls names appear. But all the action isn't just at the top of the primary ballot. The retirement of south Jersey Congressman Jim Saxton and central Jersey Congressman Mike Ferguson have set off 2 battles within the Republican party for the GOP nod. For WNYC, I'm Bob Hennelly.