Pezzullo offers to suspend campaign, endorse Hugin

At the Monmouth County Lincoln Day dinner on Friday night, Republican US Senate candidate Rich Pezzullo offered to suspend his campaign if businessman Bob Hugin entered the race.

“I will have no part in tearing down our best chance to defeat Bob Menendez,” Pezzullo said in remarks to the crowd, gathered to celebrate our sixteenth president’s birthday. He cited Hugin’s self-made wealth, military service and support for the President as reasons to rally behind him.

Pezzullo made sure to note that this is not a swan song. “I will not be going away. I will still be fighting from Sussex to the Shore to ensure that Bob Menendez is fired.”

“This race is not about me or Bob Hugin or even Bob Menendez,” he continued. “This race is about doing right by the people of New Jersey. If my campaign continued with a man like Bob Hugin in the race, it would be a grave disservice to the state that I hold dear.”

“Until then, this campaign continues, and if Mr. Hugin chooses to remain on the sidelines then we will finish the march toward the nomination in June and victory in November. The people of New Jersey deserve so much better than Bob Menendez, and it has always been my firm intention to be deeply involved in defeating him whether my name is on the ballot or not.”