Close race in New Jersey with Robert Menendez the favorite to win the Senate Seat

After Jon Corzine stepped down from his seat as Senator to become Governor of NJ, he appointed Rep. Robert Menendez to occupy the seat. Menendez was sworn in on January 18, 2006. Menendez is being challenged by Republican Thomas Kean, Jr., an incumbent state Senator and the son of former Governor Thomas Kean.

Robert Menendez, a seven term Congressmen from Union City, NJ, is the first Latino to hold a U.S. Senate seat from New Jersey. If he should be re-elected he will be the first elected to statewide office in the state. As expected, he won the Democratic primary with 86% of the vote.

Menendez did however have complaints filed against him by two Republican state lawmakers on accusations regarding ethics. In August 2006, it was alleged that Menendez broke conflict-of-interest rules when he rented property out to a nonprofit agency which receives federal funds. Menendez helped the organization win designation as a federally qualified health care center in 1998. That designation allowed the agency to receive additional federal grants. Menendez allies note that the organization in question, the North Hudson Community Action Corp., which provides social services and health care to the poor and was founded in 1960, had received federal funding for years before Menendez was in Congress, and receives its funding based on mathematical formulas. Menendez maintains that he rented the property out below market-value because "he was supportive of its work". The total rent collected over nine years was over $300,000. Another controversy has hit Menendez, forcing him to cut all ties with a close advisor after a tape recording surfaced from 1999 with the advisor's voice boasting about urging a contractor to hire someone as a favor to Menendez.

Bet on the Senate Race at Bodog

Political Betting Odds and Senate Election Betting at Bodog.com

Bodog.com placed odds on who will win the November 7th, 2006 senate election for the state of New Jersey: Robert Mendez (DEM), Thomas Kean Jr. (REP) or Field (Any Other Candidate)?

Robert Mendez (DEM): 1/3

Thomas Kean Jr. (REP): 1/1

Field (Any Other Candidate): 35/1

Thomas Kean is running against Menendez in this year’s election. Kean’s father is better known as the Chairman of the 9/11 Commission following the September 11th attacks on the United States. What Kean may have going against him is that he initially supported the war in Iraq. Although now he feels differently, many believe that his reason for the change is because he realized it wouldn’t benefit him. Kean has voted against domestic partnerships for gays and lesbians. He is one of the driving forces in increasing the minimum wage in the state which has increased twice in one year, moving from $5.15 to $7.15 as of October 1, 2006. Kean is pro-choice and is a staunch supporter of New Jersey’s gun control laws, which are some of the strictest in the Nation. On war issues, Kean has been criticized by a group of anti-war activists with relatives serving in Iraq, because Kean refused to answer questions about whether or not he would enlist or allow his children to enlist in the Armed Forces.

The polls show that Menendez is ahead 44%-38%. Menendez has a large ethic following and has less negative information following him. He has made several positive changes while in office thus far and many would like to see him continue on that path.

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