TRENTON – Immediately following his speech, Phil Murphy received the individual blessings of his family, then went down the line of elected officials arrayed on the other side of the stage.

He and Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-3) lingered in each other’s grasp, radiating goodwill amid continuing back chatter about ill will.

Murphy and former Governor Chris Christie did an abbreviated bear hug, before Murphy caught the toothy grin from the second row of former Governor Jim McGreevey.

The new Governor fell into an embrace with former Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno, whom he defeated in last year’s general election gubernatorial contest.

Then Murphy went back to the other side of the stage, where the well wishers included U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, and members of the Congressional delegation, including U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross, U.S. Rep. Albio Sires, U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance, and U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell.