When asked point blank if he is a “Trump Republican,” Hugin said no stating, “I’m an independent Republican.” But the Republican sought to create some distance from the president, who lost New Jersey by 14 points in 2016. Hugin, a political newcomer, was Trump’s finance chairman for his presidential campaign in New Jersey. In his rebuttal, Menendez invoked the president: “We’d get a lot more back if we’re not ripped off by the Trump administration.”Ī he has in every other battleground state, Trump has been a dominant force in the New Jersey Senate race. … We get the least back from Washington.” “On top of that, it’s not just corrupt, it’s ineffective,” Hugin said. Hugin quickly seized on the issue, arguing in his opening statement that Menendez wants to focus on Trump because he doesn’t want to draw attention to “his record of corruption.” “I also want them to look at the totality of my service of standing up for people in New Jersey,” Menendez said. But he urged voters to focus on his overall record in the Senate. Menendez, who has denied any wrongdoing, said he understood that people are “disappointed” and apologized. But the Senate Ethics Committee “severely” admonished Menendez earlier this year over the case. His trial ended in a hung jury and federal prosecutors later dropped the charges. In 2015, he was indicted on bribery and fraud charges over allegations he traded influence in exchange for gifts from a longtime friend who’s a Florida ophthalmologist and political donor. Menendez’s corruption case has loomed large over the race and was an early topic of discussion at the debate. Menendez corruption case takes center stage “We’ve got to restore integrity and confidence in government,” Hugin said, disagreeing that Trump is mainly responsible. Hugin similarly denounced the lack of civility and called those threats “very serious,” but he said both parties on responsible for the current political environment - while taking a jab at Menendez for being too partisan. “When you create that type of environment, you create a toxic environment,” Menendez said, arguing that it’s been “largely created by this president.” Menendez laid the blame squarely on Trump, referencing the “lock her up” chants at his rallies and the president’s comments from last summer’s white nationalist rally in Charlottesville that “both sides” were to blame for the violence that turned deadly. Meanwhile, CNN’s office in New York was evacuated after a suspicious package addressed to former CIA Director John Brennan was reported in the network’s mail room. The Secret Service found two “potential explosive devices” mailed to former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and former President Barack Obama’s respective homes. But they disagreed on who should shoulder the blame. Here are the takeaways from Wednesday night’s debate in Newark:Ĭandidates spar over responsibility of political polarizationīoth candidates condemned the deep polarization in politics in the wake of several bomb threats against Democratic politicians. Polls show Menendez with a single-digit lead, as Hugin has poured in $24 million of his own money. The race has drawn national attention and money, though Menendez is still favored to win a third term. Menendez cast Hugin as a “greedy health care CEO” and acolyte of President Trump, while the Republican blasted Menendez over his corruption case that he argued “embarrassed” New Jersey. The candidates clashed over hyper-partisanship in politics, health care and their records. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and his well-funded Republican opponent Bob Hugin squared off in their first and only debate in a closer-than-expected Senate race in deep-blue New Jersey.
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