By Rich Valdés

Headline after headline depicts US Senator Bob Menendez (D-Hudson) and NJ state Senator Tom Kean Jr.(R-Union) in a statistical tie with each of them occasionally leading in certain polls. Based on the ads, it looks like Kean has his sights focused on Menendez with the main campaign issue being ethics. However, on the other side it looks like Mr. Menendez may not have realized whom he is running against in this election. If I didn't know better I would think that George W. Bush was a candidate for the US senate in New Jersey.

This tactic might have worked at a different time but it seems that many Americans, and New Jerseyans alike feel that they are in a better position today than they were four years ago. After all, America has been free of Terrorist attacks for the last 5 years. People are holding their jobs, while saving and investing more of their money. As a Hispanic American I can vouch for the fact that Hispanic home ownership is at a record-breaking all-time high and younger families are becoming homeowners as well. All this while our country is at war on two international fronts--that doesn't sound so bad does it?
 

So, what gives with all this "Stop Bush" propaganda? It seems that the experienced politician [Menendez] cannot find a viable issue where he feels he has Mr. Kean beat, so he has resorted to guilt by association. The only problem with that is, that Senator Kean has not aligned himself with the President on several issues. Kean has brought the challenge to Menendez full force, while Menendez has chosen to dodge the issues and resort to political gamesmanship and diversionary tactics to retain his temporary appointment to the US Senate.

New Jersey voters should hold Mr. Menendez accountable and mandate that he [Menendez] run against his opponent and not away from the issues, by hiding behind the guise of "stopping" an unpopular president, who in retrospect isn't doing such a bad job after all.

Further,both candidates have a legislative record that they are proud of. These records have been under a high level of public scrutiny regarding potential lapses in the exercise of sound ethical judgment. However, only one candidate is running from his opponent and the issues in this election by "beating a dead horse" so-to-speak. This backpedaling and lack of confidence in the sitting interim US Senator are worrisome and should be noted as the voters deliberate.

This is still any candidate’s race. The decision hangs in the balance and we will see if the New Jersey electorate will be deceived into voting against Bush purely for the sake of partisanship and political control, or delivered from deceit by voting for what is right, come Election Day.

Note: The author, Rich Valdes, is a freelance political analyst from Jersey City, New Jersey,  Rich interned as a Congressional Aide in New Jersey's 5th District and was the 2005 Republican Nominee for State Assemblyman in New Jersey’s 33rd legislative district. With over 10 years of sales and client relations experience Rich is the Director of Public Affairs for Gospel Tabernacle Church A/G in North Bergen, New Jersey.  Rich Valdes is also spokesperson for the Hudson County Republican Committee where he serves as an executive board member. Mr. Valdes is presently serving a two-year term as an elected Committeeman in Jersey City's Ward E12. Rich is married and has two daughters. Rich can be reached at info@RichValdes.com .