Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

Menendez beats Kean Jr. by 9 percent in New Jersey
By Jessica Durando, Steven Williamson & Catherine Snipe
Daily Targum (Rutgers)
11/08/2006

(U-WIRE) NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — After an intense campaign that pitted him against State Sen. Tom Kean Jr., Bob Menendez emerged as the first Hispanic elected to statewide office in New Jersey.

Menendez will maintain his U.S. Senate seat, after defeating Kean by nine points with 97 percent of districts reporting as of press time.

During his victory speech, Menendez said, "I will wake up every morning and work as hard for you as I possibly can in the Senate over the next six years."

Menendez was the incumbent Democratic senator for the state of New Jersey. Menendez ran on a strong Democratic platform that was deeply critical of the Republican Party, specifically the George W. Bush administration.

He continually assailed the War in Iraq, citing he voted against it from the beginning. Menendez also outspokenly supported stem cell research and sought to bolster port security.

Voters opted for the Democrat despite a rival campaign that pummeled Menendez with corruption allegations. He faced charges made by his GOP opponent, the son of a popular former governor.

As of Oct. 18, Menendez had raised nearly $11 million in campaign funds from Political Action Committees and private donors. He spent approximately $9.4 million of these funds on the campaign.

During the campaign, Kean accused Menendez of accepting kickbacks, or money from groups that his legislation has funded, from various organizations.

Flanked by crowds of supporters last night at his campaign party in Bridgewater, Kean told supporters "I'm not going away."

At the Menendez campaign party, a wide range of people filled the room, including Bill O'Sullivan, an electrician with NJ Building Trades, who said he expected Menendez to work toward a more just society.

"Menendez fled Cuba to get away from Batista," Sullivan said. "Bob Menendez is the American dream."

Anthony Gaeta, an attorney for the Democratic Campaign Party, said Menendez's victory is a big step away from the Bush administration's policies.

"Public sentiment overall is fed up with the Bush administration," Gaeta said.

Gov. Jon S. Corzine introduced Menendez after saying a few words about the voters and the election.

"People of New Jersey made a decision based on their values," Gov. Jon Corzine said. "Today New Jersey's choice is Bob Menendez." Corzine said Menendez is the man who is going to make New Jersey proud.

"I will dedicate myself to earning your trust and making you proud in return for the confidence you have given me tonight," Menendez said.

During his speech, Menendez emphasized several of his political stances. One of his major points was his stance on the war in Iraq.

"You will always know where I stand. I ignored the polls and voted against the war," he said.

He touched on Kean's tactic of portraying him as corrupt, thanking voters for "rejecting the politics of personal destruction."

Menendez spoke about setting the nation on a new and different course as well as making health care and college more affordable for New Jersey citizens.

"We need to change the direction of Washington," he said. "This isn't George Bush's course, but it is our course."

Menendez then turned his thanks over to the Hispanic community, speaking in Spanish and chanting, "Yes we can."

New Jersey has not elected a Republican to the Senate in 34 years.

The national Republican Party pumped several million dollars worth of advertising to the campaign and sent Republican faces in to help, including Arizona Sen. John McCain, former President George H.W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.

But Seton Hall University political scientist Joseph Marbach said Kean Jr. might have discouraged voters with a too-negative campaign message.

"He walked a fine line, and at some point, started to turn voters off," Marbach told the Associated Press. "You get portrayed as the one who's the mudslinger, and voters start to tune it out."

United States Congressman Frank Pallone said the Menendez victory would benefit University students.

"This was fantastic. I think it means a lot for Rutgers and for students. One of the hallmarks of the Democratic majority is to lower interest rates on loans and increase Pell grants," Pallone said. "Menendez is a strong spokesman for Rutgers."

Menendez's son said it is important for young voters to make informed voting decisions. "Students in college need to go out and support a candidate and go out and vote," he said. "We need [elected officials] that choose wisely and take our interests into consideration."

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