TRENTON, N.J. — Phil Murphy isn’t the only political target coming up in local New Jersey Republican campaigns’ rhetoric and materials this summer, Save Jerseyans. In fact, he’s not even most popular notwithstanding the far-left Governor’s unpopularity among GOP base voters.
It’s all about Bob. The corrupt one.
“Flights to [the Dominican Republic] with a multi millionaire criminal who was recently convicted of defrauding Medicare of millions and sentenced to 17 years in prison. Do the Middlesex County Freeholders support Bob Menendez and his criminal friends?” opined Middlesex County Freeholder candidate Rich Castaldo via social media on Friday.
A resident of Perth Amboy and Middlesex GOP operative who owns his own graphic design and printing company, Castaldo is one of a number of young, next-generation Republican candidates hoping that Bob Menendez’s surprisingly weak polling position in a state that hasn’t sent a Republican to the U.S. Senate since prior to Watergate will yield positive ripple effect down-ballot this November.
Castaldo isn’t alone.
Republicans in most of the 21 counties can be found, posting, tweeting, and talking as much about the “bad” or “other” Bob these days as leaf collection, road repair, county services, and the other issues which arise in local political combat.
GOP strategists are betting that they can peel off enough Democrats and Independents who aren’t bullish on national Republicans but are downright disgusted by Bob Menendez’s notorious behavior.
A recent July poll found Bob Hugin, the GOP challenger, inside the margin of error. A self-made millionaire, Hugin is spending considerable personal resources online and on television to drive up Menendez’s unfavorable ratings, and he’s getting help from an outside pac, too.
Again, Senator Menendez provides plenty of easy and available material. Escaping jail only by mistrial earlier this year and ‘severely admonished’ in April 2018 for accepting a small fortune in improper gifts, Republicans nationally see a once unlikely opening in New Jersey this cycle.
The gift giver in question — Salomon Melgen — was just denied an opportunity for a new trial after having been previously sentenced to 17 years in prison for perpetrating a historic Medicare fraud scheme. Menendez repeatedly used his office and influence over the years to aid Melgen both personally and in business dealings.
Hugin and Castaldo are both opposed to the ‘sanctuary’ policies espoused by Murphy, Menendez, and Middlesex County where ICE has been extremely active as of late after the county prison released illegal aliens accused and/or convicted of heinous crimes.
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