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 fifth, non-consecutive term.
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 the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, 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 prevailing political climate at the time of the election was also a major factor. Voter anger was targeted against the GOP, and many Democrats once considered vulnerable managed to hold on.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Polling
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
Official results, New Jersey Division of Elections (PDF, July 11, 2008)
| County |
J. Pennacchio |
M. Sabrin |
R. Zimmer |
| Total | 74,546 (40.3%) | 25,576 (13.8%) | 84,663 (45.8%) |
| Atlantic | 1,322 (21.9%) | 810 (13.4%) | 3,909 (64.7%) |
| Bergen | 10,761 (62.2%) | 1,384 (8.0%) | 5,145 (29.8%) |
| Burlington | 2,869 (20.8%) | 2,276 (16.5%) | 8,629 (62.6%) |
| Camden | 2,166 (34.2%) | 1,036 (16.4%) | 3,123 (49.4%) |
| Cape May | 1,034 (20.1%) | 483 (9.4%) | 3,615 (70.4%) |
| Cumberland | 395 (18.1%) | 225 (10.3%) | 1,566 (71.6%) |
| Essex | 2,262 (35.6%) | 493 (7.8%) | 3,592 (56.6%) |
| Gloucester | 2,161 (46.8%) | 1,254 (27.1%) | 1,206 (26.1%) |
| Hudson | 955 (31.0%) | 641 (20.8%) | 1,487 (48.2%) |
| Hunterdon | 2,730 (29.6%) | 977 (10.6%) | 5,519 (59.8%) |
| Mercer | 1,538 (33.6%) | 488 (10.7%) | 2,555 (55.8%) |
| Middlesex | 4,195 (53.7%) | 1,021 (13.1%) | 2,603 (33.3%) |
| Monmouth | 4,630 (32.8%) | 1,510 (10.7%) | 7,981 (56.5%) |
| Morris | 12,700 (56.1%) | 1,855 (8.2%) | 8,094 (35.7%) |
| Ocean | 4,820 (21.4%) | 6,778 (30.2%) | 10,875 (48.4%) |
| Passaic | 4,570 (71.6%) | 545 (8.5%) | 1,271 (19.9%) |
| Salem | 657 (40.6%) | 193 (11.9%) | 769 (47.5%) |
| Somerset | 4,875 (43.2%) | 1,170 (10.4%) | 5,227 (46.4%) |
| Sussex | 3,621 (50.9%) | 647 (9.1%) | 2,850 (40.0%) |
| Union | 4,653 (52.1%) | 1,388 (15.5%) | 2,896 (32.4%) |
| Warren | 1,632 (43.1%) | 402 (10.6%) | 1,751 (46.3%) |
General election
Candidates
Major
Minor
- Jeff 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]
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]
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% |
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Results
2008 New Jersey U.S. Senate general election
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Democratic |
Frank Lautenberg |
1,951,218 |
56.0 |
+2.1 |
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Republican |
Dick Zimmer |
1,461,025 |
42.0 |
-2.0 |
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Independent |
Daryl Mikell Brooks |
20,920 |
1.0 |
n/a |
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Libertarian |
Jason Scheurer |
18,810 |
0.5 |
n/a |
|
Independent |
J.M. Carter |
15,935 |
0.5 |
n/a |
|
Independent |
Jeff Boss |
10,345 |
0.3 |
n/a |
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Socialist Workers |
Sara Lobman |
9,187 |
0.3 |
n/a |
| Majority |
490,193 |
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| Turnout |
3,482,445 |
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Democratic hold |
Swing |
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References
- ↑ "Results of SurveyUSA News Poll #11152". SurveyUSA. November 2006. Retrieved 2007-02-05.
- 1 2 "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.
- 1 2 Official results for 2008 primary elections, New Jersey Division of Elections (PDF, July 11, 2008)
- 1 2 3 4 5 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.
External links
