MENENDEZ VS. HUGIN?

Menendez, a two-term incumbent, survived the federal government’s corruption case against him, but it’s an issue that Hugin has already homed in on. Menendez faced an indictment that he traded favors with a Florida eye doctor, but the case ended in a hung jury. Prosecutors then declined to retry him. Republicans are betting that even though he wasn’t convicted, the charges will leave an impression on voters.

“I’ve seen a lot of public polling that the trial last fall made a negative impression on voters which has seemed to have stuck with them,” said Bill Palatucci, the Republican National Committeeman in New Jersey.

Menendez’s job approval sank in public polls during the trial, but Democrats are hopeful that Hugin’s support of Trump and former Gov. Chris Christie will help sink him.

“He has to answer for both their political records, in the absence of having his own,” said Democratic strategist Julie Roginsky.

Experts say they expect Menendez to rebound from a tough year.

“Hugin wants to make the U.S. Senate race a referendum on Bob Menendez,” said Fairleigh Dickinson University political science professor Peter Woolley. “Menendez will point out the obvious. He was tried. He was not found guilty. The matter is closed.”

Hugin is expected to spend millions of his own cash to take on Menendez. The senator’s campaign coffers had $4.1 million on hand, according to the Federal Election Commission.

Menendez could also benefit from the statewide vote, since New Jersey has nearly 900,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans.