There's a poll out today from Stockton on the New Jersey senate race. It shows Bob Menendez the Democrat felon..err, candidate ahead of his relatively unknown GOP challenger Bob Hugin by 45% to 43%. Further, those polled had a strong negative opinion about Menendez and a somewhat positive opinion about Hugin.
These are incredible results for a New Jersey senate race. After all, the Democrats haven't lost a senate race in NJ for 46 years. The last time a Democrat incumbent lost in NJ was 1928. To say the least, a loss by Menendez would be amazing.
Of course, given that this is New Jersey, the most likely outcome in November would be that Menendez squeaks by and gets re-elected. The movement in the polls, however, has all been against him. There's a pretty strong campaign across New Jersey which keeps hammering Menendez for his corruption problems and all that went with it. His trial on federal charges (brought by the Obama Justice Department) ended with a deadlocked jury, so he avoided conviction. Still, Menendez had to admit his frequent free acceptance of "gifts" from a large campaign contributor in Florida who Menendez then helped in his dealings with Medicare. That contributor is a doctor who was convicted of defrauding the government out of tens of millions of dollars. There's no way to put a happy face on what Menendez did in this regard.
If November comes and the people of New Jersey still remember all the corruption of Menendez (and they will given the big campaign against him), the voters will surely find it hard to cast a ballot to send this crook back to the senate. The big question is whether or not the voters will choose the Republican or, alternatively, decide not to vote at all.
One thing is certain: if Bob Hugin wins this race, there is no realistic way that the Dems could take control of the Senate.
These are incredible results for a New Jersey senate race. After all, the Democrats haven't lost a senate race in NJ for 46 years. The last time a Democrat incumbent lost in NJ was 1928. To say the least, a loss by Menendez would be amazing.
Of course, given that this is New Jersey, the most likely outcome in November would be that Menendez squeaks by and gets re-elected. The movement in the polls, however, has all been against him. There's a pretty strong campaign across New Jersey which keeps hammering Menendez for his corruption problems and all that went with it. His trial on federal charges (brought by the Obama Justice Department) ended with a deadlocked jury, so he avoided conviction. Still, Menendez had to admit his frequent free acceptance of "gifts" from a large campaign contributor in Florida who Menendez then helped in his dealings with Medicare. That contributor is a doctor who was convicted of defrauding the government out of tens of millions of dollars. There's no way to put a happy face on what Menendez did in this regard.
If November comes and the people of New Jersey still remember all the corruption of Menendez (and they will given the big campaign against him), the voters will surely find it hard to cast a ballot to send this crook back to the senate. The big question is whether or not the voters will choose the Republican or, alternatively, decide not to vote at all.
One thing is certain: if Bob Hugin wins this race, there is no realistic way that the Dems could take control of the Senate.
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