- United States Senate election in New Jersey, 2008
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United States Senate election in New Jersey, 2008 2002 ← November 4, 2008 → 2014 Nominee Frank Lautenberg Dick Zimmer Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,820,813 1,393,064 Percentage 55.5% 42.5%
County results
U.S. Senator before election
Elected U.S. Senator
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Hoboken 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.
Contents
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.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Rob Andrews, U.S. Congressman
- Donald Cresitello, Mayor of Morristown
- Frank Lautenberg, incumbent U.S. Senator
Polling
Source Date Frank Lautenberg (D) Rob Andrews (D) Rasmussen Reports May 15, 2008 49% 19% Joel Benenson April 1-2, 2008 52% 21% Results
2008 New Jersey U.S. Senate Democratic primary election[4]
See also full 2008 Democratic Party Primary Election results.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 Republican primary
Main article: Republican primary in New Jersey, 2008Candidates
- Joseph Pennacchio, State Senator
- Murray Sabrin, Professor and Libertarian perennial candidate
- Dick Zimmer, former U.S. Congressman
Results
2008 New Jersey U.S. Senate Republican primary election[4]
See also full 2008 Republican Party Primary Election results.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 General election
Candidates
Major
- Frank Lautenberg, incumbent U.S. Senator
- Dick Zimmer, former U.S. Congressman
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]
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% 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 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.
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
Categories:- United States Senate elections, 2008
- United States Senate elections in New Jersey
- New Jersey elections, 2008
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