What blue wave? For all the buzz about Democratic sweeps this fall, at least one Republican may buck the trend: Bob Hugin, the right-wing candidate running for Senate in New Jersey against incumbent Bob Menendez. "People in New Jersey are smart," Hugin said Wednesday in an interview on Cheddar. Despite trailing his Democratic opponent by up to 17 points at the start of the race, Hugin is now down just six points, according to a poll released by Quinnipiac University [last week](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/senate-race-is-surprisingly-tight-in-new-jersey-bob-menendez-bob-hugin/). Menendez has taken a hit after battling corruption charges ー his trial ended last year with a hung jury. In June, he received just 62 percent of the primary vote, despite running against a virtually unknown contender. The six-term incumbent maintains his innocence, but many in New Jersey think his political end is near. "It's just embarrassing for New Jersey," Hugin said. "We were offended morally that this guy was going to run virtually unopposed if we didn't step in and give the people of New Jersey another choice." Hugin is a former CEO of the drug company Celgene. He was a Trump delegate at the 2016 GOP Convention, served as finance chairman for the president's New Jersey campaign, and donated more than $100,000 to a pro-Trump super PAC. Now, the unlikely candidate in a state that's voted blue in the last seven presidential elections is trying to focus on the issues. "It's not about party politics," he said. "It's Bob Hugin verses Bob Menendez." Unlike many of his Republican peers, Hugin is pro-choice, supports marriage equality, and is opposed to offshore drilling. He also disagreed with Trump's response to Sen. John McCain's death. Initially, the president posted a terse Tweet then recanted, issuing a longer-than-Tweet-length statement praising the Republican late lawmaker a full two days after his death. "Anybody who disrespects \[McCain\] should be called to task," Hugin said. "His memory should be revered in all of us." For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/republican-bob-hugin-closes-the-gap-in-new-jersey-senate-race).

Share:
More In Politics
Mexico Says It Might Sue Google Over “Gulf of America” Change
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum says her government is not ruling out filing a civil lawsuit against Google if it maintains its stance of calling the stretch of sea between northeastern Mexico and the southeastern United States the “Gulf of America.” Sheinbaum, in her morning press conference on Thursday, said the president’s decree to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico is restricted to the “continental shelf of the United States” because Mexico still controls much of the body of water. “We have sovereignty over our continental shelf,” she said.
So Long, Penny! Trump Orders US to Ditch 1-cent Coin
President Donald Trump has ordered the U.S. to stop minting pennies. His surprise announcement comes after decades of unsuccessful efforts to phase out the 1-cent coin. Advocates for ditching the penny cite its high production cost and limited utility. Fans of the penny cite its usefulness in charity drives and relative bargain in production costs compared with the nickel. Here's a look at some question surrounding Trump's order.
Trump Administration Shutters Consumer Protection Agency
The Trump administration has ordered the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to stop nearly all its work, effectively shutting down the agency that was created to protect consumers after the 2008 financial crisis and subprime mortgage-lending scandal. Russell Vought is the newly installed director of the Office of Management and Budget. Vought directed the CFPB in a Saturday night email to stop work on proposed rules, to suspend the effective dates on any rules that were finalized but not yet effective, and to stop investigative work and not begin any new investigations. The agency has been a target of conservatives since President Barack Obama created it following the 2007-2008 financial crisis.
Load More