Menendez, Hugin Attack Ads Intensify: 2018 NJ Senate Election

A “greedy CEO” is running against a “disgraceful hypocrite” for a U.S. Senate seat in New Jersey on Nov. 6. If you believe what the candidates are saying about each other in their campaign videos, that is.

As an unexpectedly close race between Democratic incumbent Robert Menendez and Republican challenger Bob Hugin heats up in the Garden State ahead of the mid-term election, neither candidate has been shy about slinging mud at their opponent (watch some of their recent campaign videos at the bottom of this article).

Hugin, who made waves as CEO of pharmaceutical giant, Celgene, has taken fire for running a company that allegedly gouged the public by charging exorbitant prices for cancer drugs. Hugin has also seen criticism for his past involvement with Princeton University's Tiger Inn eating club, where he led efforts to keep the group all-male and all-heterosexual.

On the other hand, according to some pollsters, Menendez’s federal trial - which ended with a deadlocked jury last year - has left a sour taste in many voters’ minds, including those from his own party. Menendez was accused of offering a friend political favors in exchange for lavish gifts and campaign contributions.

• See related article: Most Democrats Think Sen. Menendez Should Resign If Convicted, Poll Says

HUGIN ON MENENDEZ: ‘DISGRACE, TAXES, HYPOCRISY’

Hugin, who has reportedly spent more than $10 million out of pocket to produce a series of ads against Menendez, has posted videos that include:

• “Disgraced” – Blasts Menendez for his federal trial/bribery charges
• “Taxes” – Criticizes Menendez for “voting to raise taxes more than 90 times”
• “Hypocrisy” – Posed the question, “What about the underage girls who accused you?”, a reference to unproven accusations that Menendez and his friend, Dr. Salomon Melgen, a wealthy Florida doctor, hired underage prostitutes while vacationing in the Dominican Republic.

MENENDEZ ON HUGIN: ‘MONEY TRAIL, GREED IS GOOD’

Meanwhile, Menendez, with the aid of fundraising campaign appearances from Democratic Party icons such as Hillary Clinton, has countered with ads that include:

• “Bob Hugin's Money Trail” – Blasts Hugin for “writing checks” to Donald Trump, Jesse Helms, Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell and Chris Christie
• “Good” – Accuses Hugin of siding with President Trump on killing Obamacare, "extreme Supreme Court picks" and "helping the powerful and leaving regular folks behind"
• “Bob Hugin: Greed is Good” – Criticizes Hugin for his "greedy Wall Street days" and "his time gouging dying cancer patients as Big Pharma CEO"

FACT CHECKING EACH OTHER

The accuracy of the ads, however, may be a point up for debate. Unsurprisingly, each camp has a roster of “fact checks” that they’ve been running on the other.

According to recent statements from the Menendez campaign:

• “The New York Times published its own fact-check of the former drug company CEO’s campaign ad [“Hypocrisy”] which features anonymous, baseless allegations that the Times notes, ‘have never been proven.’”
• “Republican Bob Hugin waged a 13-year long court battle to deny women access to his exclusive, all-male eating club. Menendez is a top ally of women in the Senate and earned the endorsement of Planned Parenthood.”
• “Republican Bob Hugin won’t stand up for New Jerseyans with preexisting conditions, and supports repealing the ACA. Menendez is a leading voice for expanding affordable healthcare.”

According to recent statements from the Hugin campaign:

• “Bob Menendez voted to increase taxes over 500 times during his political career.”
• “While Menendez may want citizens of NJ to forget that the FBI had very specific allegations he had sex with underage women in the Dominican, our ad reminds them exactly what kind of a person they have in Bob Menendez. New Jersey voters have a very clear choice: Do you believe the denials of corrupt, career politician Bob Menendez and convicted felon Salomon Melgen, or do you believe the FBI and the Obama Justice Department?”
• “The Senator is now lying to voters about his opponent’s business record the way he dissembled about his political corruption. Democrats always treat a Republican candidate from business as if commerce is by definition criminal, and Mr. Hugin is no exception.”

U.S. SENATE RACE 2018

Get up to speed on the 2018 U.S. Senate race in New Jersey with some of the below articles (click headline to read).

• Watch Bob Menendez Debate Bob Hugin
• Polls Show Nail-Biting US Senate Race In New Jersey
• 3 Questions With New Jersey's US Senate Candidates
• These 7 Democrats Endorsed GOP's Bob Hugin For US Senate
• Menendez Rips Bob Hugin For Alleged 'Anti-Gay, Anti-Woman' Past
• NJ Primary Results: Bob Menendez Wins Tougher-Than-Expected Race

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Photo 1: menendez.senate.gov

Photo 2: Bob Hugin campaign