While a hospital groundbreaking in Camden this morning drew a politically powerful guestlist.

Five new Jersey governors from two different parties stood shoulder to shoulder with indicted South Jersey powerbroker George Norcross and TV host Kelly Ripa to reveal a massive $3 billion project that will expand Cooper University Health Care's main campus in Camden.

Both a sign of the continued changes within the city and the deep support Norcross maintains.

Despite the charges, senior political correspond David Cruz reports.

It is a testament to the enduring power of Cooper Hospital chairman George Norcross that when he summons four former governors and the current governor to a groundbreaking on a random Tuesday afternoon, they all show, I think my fellow governors would agree with me.

There's only one guy in the state that could pull this group together, so God bless you and thank you for everything you do for Cooper and for Camden.

The timing of today's groundbreaking.

Two years after Project Immagine was announced comes as Norcross faces state corruption charges and questions about whether one of the state's most powerful political influencers still has his mojo.

From the numbers of political big shots in the packed room today.

The answer appears to be yes.

With regard to the indomitable chairman of the board of this great organization, George Norcross, between he, his two brothers and the family in general, they have done remarkable things for this community.

But the event was also about Camden.

Well, Camden and George Norcross, who sat on stage basking in the accolades, a loyal son of Camden from the so-called bad days to today's better days.

The city was abysmal, was dirty.

It was broken.

I remember talking to children and children saying, you know, between here and the school, I get stopped by drug dealers.

There were two federal marshals standing outside the office who were not there when I walked in, and I introduced myself to them and said hello.

And I said, what are you guys doing here?

And they said, we're going.

We're going to walk you to your car.

And I saw my car parked right out in front.

And they go, yeah, we're walking into your car.

And it was the first moment that I truly understood on a personal level, what the state of the city of Camden was.

In February of 2002.

I don't think I ever said no to George Norcross.

And I wouldn't, because all these governors work together.

If there's one human being in the center of the revival of Camden, Camden County and this whole area is George Norcross, there are plenty in this city who say corporations like Cooper, the 76 ers and others have benefited more from Camden's resurgence than the people who live here.

But those people weren't on the invite list today.

Who would have thought since Governor Kaine was governor to Governor Murphy, that Camden would come so far, so quickly from once a place of America's most dangerous and poorest city?

There was a disco party after the event, featuring TV personality Kelly Ripa, which most of the governors passed on their jobs already having been done.

I'm David Cruz, NJ Spotlight News.