It’s no longer Jersey sure

Polls apartart on Menendez’s chances

Dueling polls released Wednesday offered conflicting views on whether New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez is on the ropes or headed for a two-digit victory over GOP challenger Bob Hugin.

Menendez — who escaped corruption charges last year when a jury couldn’t reach a verdict — leads retired pharmaceutical executive Hugin 43 percent to 37 percent, with 18 percent undecided, according to a Fairleigh Dickinson University poll. The survey has a margin of error of 4.3 percentage points either way, which means the race is likely up for grabs.

But a Quinnipiac University survey released just hours later showed the incumbent leading by a comfortable margin of 53 percent to 42 percent, with only 5 percent undecided. That poll has a margin of error of 4.1 percentage points.

On Monday, Stockton University called the race a statistical dead heat, with Menendez at 45 percent and Hugin at 43 percent.

New Jersey has not elected a Republican to the Senate since 1972.

“Sen. Robert Menendez has the advantage of representing very blue New Jersey, where there are many more Democrats than Republicans,” said Quinnipiac pollster Mary Snow.

“Also working to his advantage is that 63 percent of New Jersey voters want Congress to be more of a check on President Donald Trump. That number is even higher among women.”

Both new polls show voters — even those backing Menendez — view him unfavorably.

In the Quinnipiac survey, 59 percent said he is “not honest,” compared with 25 percent who felt he is.

The two-term incumbent was indicted on federal bribery charges, but the case ended in a hung jury last fall.

He was accused of accepting bribes from Dr. Salomon Melgen, a Florida ophthalmologist, in return for political favors.

Menendez maintained his innocence, but he was reprimanded by a Senate ethics panel following the mistrial.

The FDU survey suggested the race is a real dogfight.

“There’s no denying that this is tighter than one would expect for an incumbent senator. But, as the undecided numbers show, there’s still time for either candidate to capture more support,” said FDU poll director Krista Jenkins.

Hugin has been hammered for jacking up prices of cancer drugs gs when he headed Celgene Corp.

A Menendez re-election victory is likely needed in Novemmber for Democrats to have any y shot of snatching control of the Senate from Republicans, who now have a 51-to-49 edge.