United States Senate election in New Jersey, 2008
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The 2008 United States Senate election in NJ was held on November 4, 2008. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg won re-election to a fourth, non-consecutive term.
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[edit] Background
In November 2006, Senator Lautenberg had the lowest approval rating of any Democrat running for re-election in 2008 (with 39% approving and 45% disapproving),[1] with his approval improving only slightly to 42% as of September 2007. In the same September 2007 poll conducted by Quinnipiac University, voters surveyed decided that Lautenberg does not deserve re-election (46% to 36%) and that he is too old to effectively serve another six years in the Senate (54% to 40%).[2]
Poll results suggested that given the right formula, this could have been a surprise upset race in November 2008. "The poll shows that Sen. Frank Lautenberg, who many voters say is too old to run for another term, would be vulnerable to a strong Republican candidate next year," according to Quinnipiac pollster Clay Richards.[2]
The first poll conducted after the primaries (Rasmussen Reports, June 4, 2008) showed a tighter than expected race between Lautenberg and Zimmer, with the two candidates in a virtual tie.[3]
However, the current political climate was also a major factor. Voter anger was targeted against the GOP and many Democrats once considered vulnerable managed to hold on.
[edit] Democratic primary
Main article: Democratic primary in New Jersey, 2008
[edit] Candidates
- Rob Andrews, U.S. Congressman
- Donald Cresitello, Mayor of Morristown
- Frank Lautenberg, incumbent U.S. Senator
[edit] Polling
| Source | Date | Frank Lautenberg (D) | Rob Andrews (D) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rasmussen Reports | May 15, 2008 | 49% | 19% |
| Joel Benenson | April 1-2, 2008 | 52% | 21% |
[edit] Results
| 2008 New Jersey U.S. Senate Democratic primary election[4] See also full 2008 Democratic Party Primary Election results. |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Democratic | Frank Lautenberg | 203,012 | 58.9 | ||
| Democratic | Rob Andrews | 121,777 | 35.3 | ||
| Democratic | Donald Cresitello | 19,743 | 5.7 | ||
| Turnout | 344,532 | ||||
[edit] Republican primary
Main article: Republican primary in New Jersey, 2008
[edit] Candidates
- Joseph Pennacchio, State Senator
- Murray Sabrin, Professor and Libertarian perennial candidate
- Dick Zimmer, former U.S. Congressman
[edit] Results
| 2008 New Jersey U.S. Senate Republican primary election[4] See also full 2008 Republican Party Primary Election results. |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Republican | Dick Zimmer | 84,663 | 45.8 | ||
| Republican | Joseph Pennacchio | 74,546 | 40.3 | ||
| Republican | Murray Sabrin | 25,576 | 13.8 | ||
| Turnout | 184,785 | ||||
[edit] General election
[edit] Candidates
[edit] Major
- Frank Lautenberg, incumbent U.S. Senator
- Dick Zimmer, former U.S. Congressman
[edit] Minor
- Jeffrey Boss (I)[5]
- Daryl Mikell Brooks (I)[5]
- J.M. Carter (I)[5]
- Carl Peter Klapper (Write In)[6]
- Sara Lobman (Socialist Workers)[5]
- Jason Scheurer (Libertarian)[5]
[edit] Debates
On October 29, 2008, a debate between Lautenberg and Zimmer was held on the radio station NJ 101.5.[7]
On November 1, 2008, the two candidates debated for the second time on New Jersey Network, in the only televised debate agreed to by the Lautenberg campaign.[8]
[edit] Polling
| Source | Date | Frank Lautenberg (D) | Dick Zimmer (R) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Survey USA | October 29-30, 2008 | 52% | 37% |
| Strategic Vision | October 24-26, 2008 | 49% | 41% |
| Marist College | October 20-21, 2008 | 48% | 41% |
| Quinnipiac University | October 16-19, 2008 | 55% | 33% |
| Monmouth University | October 15-18, 2008 | 52% | 36% |
| Survey USA | October 11-12, 2008 | 51% | 38% |
| Rasmussen Reports | October 7, 2008 | 51% | 37% |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University | Sep 29-Oct 5, 2008 | 50% | 34% |
| Strategic Vision | September 26-28, 2008 | 48% | 41% |
| Survey USA | September 27-28, 2008 | 51% | 38% |
| Rasmussen Reports | September 16, 2008 | 49% | 42% |
| Strategic Vision | September 14-16, 2008 | 47% | 40% |
| Monmouth University | September 11-14, 2008 | 46% | 36% |
| Quinnipiac University | September 10-14, 2008 | 48% | 39% |
| The Record / Research 2000 | September 9-11, 2008 | 49% | 41% |
| Marist College | September 5-8, 2008 | 51% | 40% |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University | September 4-7, 2008 | 46% | 35% |
| Quinnipiac University | August 4-10, 2008 | 48% | 41% |
| Rasmussen Reports | August 4, 2008 | 51% | 33% |
| Club for Growth | July 30-31, 2008 | 35% | 36% |
| Monmouth University | July 17-21, 2008 | 45% | 37% |
| Strategic Vision | July 11-13, 2008 | 48% | 32% |
| Rasmussen Reports | July 7, 2008 | 49% | 36% |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University | June 17-22, 2008 | 45% | 28% |
| Quinnipiac University | June 5-8, 2008 | 47% | 38% |
| Rasmussen Reports | June 4, 2008 | 45% | 44% |
[edit] Results
| 2008 New Jersey U.S. Senate general election | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Democratic | Frank Lautenberg | 1,951,218 | 56.0 | +2.1 | |
| Republican | Dick Zimmer | 1,461,025 | 42.0 | -2.0 | |
| Libertarian | Jason Scheurer | 18,810 | 0.5 | n/a | |
| Independent | J.M. Carter | 15,935 | 0.5 | n/a | |
| Independent | Daryl Mikell Brooks | 15,925 | 0.5 | n/a | |
| Independent | Jeffrey Boss | 10,345 | 0.3 | n/a | |
| Socialist Workers | Sara Lobman | 9,187 | 0.3 | n/a | |
| Majority | 490,193 | ||||
| Turnout | 3,482,445 | ||||
| Democratic hold | Swing | ||||
[edit] References
- ^ "Results of SurveyUSA News Poll #11152". SurveyUSA. November 2006. http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=7f2453b4-1590-478a-bbf4-29bb08ae42da. Retrieved 2007-02-05.
- ^ a b "Voters still say Lautenberg is too old". PolitickerNJ.com, September 25, 2007. Accessed April 8, 2008.
- ^ "Election 2008: New Jersey Senate - New Jersey Senate Race a Dead Heat", Rasmussen Reports, June 9, 2008. Accessed June 9, 2008.
- ^ a b Official results for 2008 primary elections, New Jersey Division of Elections (PDF, July 11, 2008)
- ^ a b c d e 2008 General Election Candidate Certification, New Jersey Division of Elections. Accessed September 28, 2008
- ^ Populist Write-In Candidate for Senate, Carl Peter Klapper, Advocates Adjustable Equity Mortgages, Third Bank of the US to solve financial crisis
- ^ Burton, Cynthia. "Lautenberg and Zimmer spar over issues", The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 30, 2008.
- ^ Schwaneberg, Robert. Lautenberg, Zimmer agree to debate on Nov. 1, The Star-Ledger, October 1, 2008.
[edit] External links
- Division of Elections from the New Jersey Secretary of State
- U.S. Congress candidates for New Jersey at Project Vote Smart
- New Jersey, U.S. Senate from CQ Politics
- New Jersey U.S. Senate from OurCampaigns.com
- New Jersey U.S. Senate race from 2008 Race Tracker
- Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.org
- Zimmer (R) vs Lautenberg (D-i) graph of multiple polls from Pollster.com
- Official campaign websites
- Frank Lautenberg, Democratic nominee
- Dick Zimmer, Republican nominee
- Jason Scheurer, Libertarian candidate
- Daryl Mikell Brooks, Independent candidate
- Carl Peter Klapper, Write-In Populist candidate
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