Staff Reports
In a stunning twist of events, embattled Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) has teased the possibility of launching an independent bid for the New Jersey Senate seat. However, a recent poll has revealed that Menendez’s potential candidacy would barely cause a ripple in the Democratic stronghold, as he could only scrape together a measly 9% of the vote in a hypothetical three-way race.
The poll, conducted by Emerson College/PIX11/Hill, paints a bleak picture for the senator, who is currently grappling with an abysmal 14% approval rating within his own state. A whopping 62% of residents in the Democratic stronghold have expressed their disapproval of his job performance, making it clear that Menendez’s political standing is hanging by a thread.
Menendez’s Senate bid looks dead in the water if he abandons his party: Poll https://t.co/aLigOx4Mri via @dcexaminer
— Fearless45 (@Fearless45Trump) April 2, 2024
The senator’s troubles stem from his federal indictment in September 2023 on corruption charges, with the damning document accusing him of abusing his Senate position for personal gain. Despite facing calls from both sides of the aisle to step down, Menendez has defiantly clung to his seat in the chamber, much to the dismay of many on Capitol Hill.
Menendez’s decision not to seek the Democratic nomination after lagging behind in the polls following the indictment sparked disbelief and speculation. To add fuel to the fire, the senator coyly left the door ajar for an independent bid, expressing hope for “exoneration” that would pave the way for his candidacy in the general election.
In a separate development, the poll also shed light on the ongoing Democratic primary race, with Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ) emerging as the frontrunner, commanding a commanding lead with 51% of the vote. Notably, New Jersey’s first lady, Tammy Murphy, withdrew from the race, citing a desire to steer clear of a “divisive” contest.
As the specter of the midterm elections looms, the race for the New Jersey Senate seat has been branded as “safe Democrat” by the CookPoliticalReport, indicating that the Republican Party faces an uphill battle in flipping the seat come November. Nevertheless, Republicans have seized on Menendez’s legal woes to champion an anti-corruption message, hoping to sway voters disenchanted with the incumbent senator and his party.
