while Menendez fights to hold on to his Congressional career his son is out to prove he can win reelection without the senior senator's political support Congressman Rob Menendez faced off in a virtual debate this weekend hosted by NJ Globe against a formidable opponent Hoboken mayor Ravi Bhalla a well-funded progressive who took the opportunity to link Menendez with his father's corruption case senior correspondent Joanna Gagis has the details I was out there on the front lines in the court litigation to abolish the line because it it was unconstitutional where was Robin nandz he was silent that's not saying you've been on the right side of this issue your entire career because you know you haven't you called every single party leader when you decide you want to run for this office and you sought the line They Came Out Swinging Congressman Rob Menendez and Hoboken mayor Ravi Bhalla duking it out in a virtual debate for Congressional District 8 currently held by the junior Mendez the quickly turned to the recent indictments against us Senator Bob Menendez mayor bala's case for why he should win the seat he's not concerned about the fact that his father's being accused of being a foreign agent for the Egyptian government he's not concerned about the fact that he's risking the balance of the Senate by failing to endorse Andy Kim when Reproductive Rights are issues Congressman Menendez pointing out Bhalla's own ethical concerns after his law license was suspended in New York just read the decisions yourself um and what what both the disciplinary courts in New York and New Jersey said about Robbie's Behavior that's not me saying and trying to create an issue where there's none each touted their accomplishments Bala his response to climate change and flooding in Hoboken Menendez securing federal dollars for the district but in a contest that's turned acrimonious on social media this debate stayes civil and substantive both shared their views on the role of the US in international conflicts like Israel and Gaza we need to make sure that we're supp in our allies make sure that we're standing strong and sending a Clear Vision and message that we will not abandon our allies and that we are in this with them to ensure that we have a safer future for all of our Global Citizens we need to have a more surgical approach from determining whether or not to appropriate foreign aid to any country and we should not uh provide foreign aid to governments where we see uh a human rights record that is not consistent with our values that message from Bala one that'll play well with Pro Palestinian supporters but District 8 is largely Latino and voters could turn out in Mass for Menendez says Hudson County Reporter John heines I think that the mayor was a little more definitive on his foreign policy positions Ravi Bhalla I think was quite clear about that he is going to support things like Medicare for all he's against the county line and of course he's called on Senator Menendez is to reside and he thinks that that has created some inherent conflicts for the congressman but in the end he gave the W to Menendez I think representative Menendez made a strong case of the dollars he's brought back to the district I think he also was uh pretty clear on what he would do and will continue to do in the house you know he talked about uh standing up for gun control he talked about uh standing up for women's rights each candidate told us today he felt like he walked away with the win it was an incredible opportunity to talk directly to our to our voters um and I think we delivered a resounding uh Victory last night and gave people a real reason uh to vote for us I think my strongest moment uh or moments was delivering our message of Hope and possibility for the eth district uh I bring with me a track record of success they now have one month to make their case to voters in a match that without the party line could come down to points rather than a Total Knockout for NJ Spotlight News I'm Joanna Gagis [Music]