BRIDGEWATER - Rebecca Bennett came through a back door, stepped onto the podium and delivered a blunt message.

Wherever Tom Kean is, “We are coming for you.”

It was what you expect a challenger to say, but in this case, it was more than that.

Kean’s absence over the last three months is now a national story.

Bennett, who spoke in an outdoor patio of the Green Knoll restaurant, called Kean a “coward.”

That was not new.

She said that many times during the campaign. In fact, it was part of her stump speech Now it has greater significance.

Much will be written about this campaign, but as of now, much of it is unknown.

Questions are obvious.

Just when will Kean reappear?

And what will he say? A congressman AWOL for weeks owes voters an explanation.

Bennett won this race easily, but as one of her strategists said, there were some “queasy moments “ That was because of an over the top negative campaign against her orchestrated by a presumed Republican PAC and Tina Shah, one of her primary opponents.

On this night, however, negative campaigning failed.

In a brief conversation after spending an inordinate amount of time shaking hands and posing for pictures, Bennett stressed that her military background will help her appeal to independents in a district where Republicans hold roughly a 20,000 vote advantage.

As for Kean, she did not speculate about his ailment, but sincerely wished him well.

Suppose Kean drops out?

Makes no difference, Bennett said. She still expects to win.