COLLINGSWOOD State Sen. Stephen Sweeney won't say it officially that he wants to be president of the Legislature's upper chamber.

But the state's governor Jon Corzine could.

And he did Friday in addressing union leaders and members gathered at the Scottish Rite auditorium here.

"It's great to be at the Steve Sweeney for Senate Presidency breakfast," Corzine mused to the delight of some 400 gathered for the 115th annual Peter J. McGuire Labor Day Observance.

The observance honors McGuire, the one-time Camden resident credited for creating the holiday that celebrates and honors the working man.

In keeping with tradition, a wreath was laid at his monument at Arlington Cemetery in Pennsauken Township. Twenty-six students with a union affiliation were each presented with $1,000 scholarships.

And, while the event was as much one where retiring Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts of Brooklawn was feted Department of Labor Commissioner David Socolow called him a "towering force" and Sweeney's apparent interest in moving from Senate majority leader to Senate president was mentioned in obvious and not-so-obvious tones, it was also one where Corzine's bid for a second term became a rallying point.

Sweeney suggested Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie has "drawn a line in the sand" when it comes to labor.

"He does not like you. He does not like you a little bit," Sweeney, an ironworker himself, suggested to the audience.

Roberts, who joked "this is my official stop on my farewell tour" following his retirement announcement on Wednesday, asserted Democrats have to take "this election seriously."

Socolow asserted Corzine and his administration sensed an economic downturn and reacted accordingly.

"We saw this coming. We did something," Socolow said, contending assorted stimulus programs place the state "in the position to rebound sooner."

Corzine, noting the election is "60 days away," suggested "choices are very clear" between himself and Christie, whom he did not mention by name.

The 26 scholarship recipients are attending four local institutions.