WHO’S UP

Cory Booker

Republican challenger Bob Hugin appeared to have some late momentum on the strength of his ads penetrating, but Democrats trusted in 11th hour GOTV. Booker campaigned with Menendez at the Jersey Shore, but also had his own political designs at stake this week in Trenton. Despite state Senator Gerry Cardinale’s (R-39) assessment that he “ain’t no Spartacus,” the state legislature on Monday approved a bill that clears the way in New Jersey for the junior senator to run for reelection to the senate and President of the United States in 2020.

Josh Gottheimer

In muscular shape as he heads toward Election Day, the incumbent CD-5 congressman simply sucked the life out of his Republican challenger through a combination of hands-on constituent attentiveness, monster fundraising, moderate “Problem Solvers Caucus” credentials, and finally, sewing up all the newspaper endorsements pertinent to the district. On Friday, he’s going to make sandwiches for people at Subway as part of his “Josh on the Job” tour.

Tom MacArthur

The incumbent Congressman scored the endorsement of The Burlington County Times, offset by his Democratic opponent’s endorsement by The Asbury Park Press. But in a tight election and with his political career on the line heading into Tuesday, MacArthur proved a skillful and details oriented debater in his NJTV tilt with Democrat Andy Kim.

Jeff Van Drew

The CD-2 Democrat didn’t need to do much, letting his opponent self-destruct amid another flurry of confusing, hyper-partisan comments in the aftermath of the Squirrel Hill killings.

Mikie Sherrill

Winning the race of moderation, the CD-11 candidate has a four to five point lead over Assemblyman Jay Webber (R-26) in the fight for the seat being vacated by retiring U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, as Webber goes full bore for Trump, whose style and NJ-impact policies in part drove Frelinghuysen into retirement.

No Man’s Land

Menendez v. Hugin

See here.

“This race comes down to Donald Trump,” opines State of Affairs Host Steve Adubato, whose interview can be found immediately below:

Fred Daibes

A federal grand jury charged the prominent Bergen developer, a former CEO and chairman of the Board of Directors at Mariner’s Bank, with one count of conspiracy to misapply bank funds and to make false entries to deceive a financial institution and the FDIC.

Frank Raia

The feds charged the former Hoboken Council candidate with conspiracy to violate the federal Travel Act for causing the mails to be used in aid of voter bribery, contrary to New Jersey state law, during the 2013 election.

Seth Grossman

Give the CD-2 Republican candidate points for consistency. The problem is he keeps flailing farther into absurdity, this time with a post-Squirrel Hill rage against the machine.

John McCann

The Republican nominee for the 5th District never summoned a convincing campaign apparatus as he limps obscurely toward the inevitable on Nov. 6th and a showdown with the Gottheimer juggernaut.

Andy Kim

The 3rd District Democrat ran a tremendous race and could still win next week. But on life’s-this-game-of-inches week, he needed a better debate performance on Wednesday night against the sharp and well-prepared MacArthur.