2008 United States Senate election in New Jersey

The 2008 United States Senate election in New Jersey was held on November 4, 2008. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg won re-election to a fifth, non-consecutive term, defeating former Republican congressman Dick Zimmer. Zimmer had also been the nominee for this seat in 1996.

2008 United States Senate election in New Jersey
November 4, 2008
 
Nominee Frank Lautenberg Dick Zimmer
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,951,218 1,461,025
Percentage 56.0% 42.0%
County results
Lautenberg:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Zimmer:      50–60%      60–70%
U.S. senator before election

Frank Lautenberg
Democratic

 Elected U.S. Senator

Frank Lautenberg
Democratic

Elections in New Jersey
Federal government
U.S. President
U.S. Senate
U.S. House of Representatives
State government
General elections
Gubernatorial elections
Senate elections
General Assembly elections
Newark
Mayoral elections
Jersey City
Mayoral elections
Hoboken
Mayoral elections
Atlantic City
Mayoral elections

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
Main article: 2008 Democratic primary in New Jersey

Candidates

Polling
Source Date Frank
Lautenberg		 Rob
Andrews
Joel Benenson April 1–2, 2008 52% 21%
Rasmussen Reports May 15, 2008 49% 19%

Results
Democratic primary results[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Frank Lautenberg (incumbent) 203,012 58.9%
Democratic Rob Andrews 121,777 35.3%
Democratic Donald Cresitello 19,743 5.7%
Total votes 344,532 100.0%

Republican primary

Candidates

Results
Republican primary results[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dick Zimmer 84,663 45.8%
Republican Joseph Pennacchio 74,546 40.3%
Republican Murray Sabrin 25,576 13.8%
Total votes 184,785 100.0%

Official results, New Jersey Division of Elections (PDF, July 11, 2008)

County J. Pennacchio M. Sabrin R. Zimmer
Total74,546 (40.3%)25,576 (13.8%)84,663 (45.8%)
Atlantic1,322 (21.9%)810 (13.4%)3,909 (64.7%)
Bergen10,761 (62.2%)1,384 (8.0%)5,145 (29.8%)
Burlington2,869 (20.8%)2,276 (16.5%)8,629 (62.6%)
Camden2,166 (34.2%)1,036 (16.4%)3,123 (49.4%)
Cape May1,034 (20.1%)483 (9.4%)3,615 (70.4%)
Cumberland395 (18.1%)225 (10.3%)1,566 (71.6%)
Essex2,262 (35.6%)493 (7.8%)3,592 (56.6%)
Gloucester2,161 (46.8%)1,254 (27.1%)1,206 (26.1%)
Hudson955 (31.0%)641 (20.8%)1,487 (48.2%)
Hunterdon2,730 (29.6%)977 (10.6%)5,519 (59.8%)
Mercer1,538 (33.6%)488 (10.7%)2,555 (55.8%)
Middlesex4,195 (53.7%)1,021 (13.1%)2,603 (33.3%)
Monmouth4,630 (32.8%)1,510 (10.7%)7,981 (56.5%)
Morris12,700 (56.1%)1,855 (8.2%)8,094 (35.7%)
Ocean4,820 (21.4%)6,778 (30.2%)10,875 (48.4%)
Passaic4,570 (71.6%)545 (8.5%)1,271 (19.9%)
Salem657 (40.6%)193 (11.9%)769 (47.5%)
Somerset4,875 (43.2%)1,170 (10.4%)5,227 (46.4%)
Sussex3,621 (50.9%)647 (9.1%)2,850 (40.0%)
Union4,653 (52.1%)1,388 (15.5%)2,896 (32.4%)
Warren1,632 (43.1%)402 (10.6%)1,751 (46.3%)

General election

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)
Rasmussen Reports[9] June 4, 2008 45% 44%
Quinnipiac University June 5–8, 2008 47% 38%
Fairleigh Dickinson University June 17–22, 2008 45% 28%
Rasmussen Reports July 7, 2008 49% 36%
Strategic Vision July 11–13, 2008 48% 32%
Monmouth University July 17–21, 2008 45% 37%
Club for Growth[10] July 30–31, 2008 35% 36%
Rasmussen Reports[11] August 4, 2008 51% 33%
Quinnipiac University August 4–10, 2008 48% 41%
Fairleigh Dickinson University September 4–7, 2008 46% 35%
Marist College September 5–8, 2008 51% 40%
The Record / Research 2000 September 9–11, 2008 49% 41%
Quinnipiac University September 10–14, 2008 48% 39%
Monmouth University September 11–14, 2008 46% 36%
Strategic Vision September 14–16, 2008 47% 40%
Rasmussen Reports September 16, 2008 49% 42%
Survey USA September 27–28, 2008 51% 38%
Strategic Vision September 26–28, 2008 48% 41%
Fairleigh Dickinson University September 29 – October 5, 2008 50% 34%
Rasmussen Reports October 7, 2008 51% 37%
Survey USA October 11–12, 2008 51% 38%
Monmouth University October 15–18, 2008 52% 36%
Quinnipiac University October 16–19, 2008 55% 33%
Marist College October 20–21, 2008 48% 41%
Strategic Vision October 24–26, 2008 49% 41%
Survey USA October 29–30, 2008 52% 37%

Results
2008 United States Senate election in New Jersey
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Frank Lautenberg (incumbent) 1,951,218 56.0% +2.1%
Republican Dick Zimmer 1,461,025 42.0% -2.0%
Independent Daryl Mikell Brooks 20,920 1.0% n/a
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
Socialist Workers Sara Lobman 9,187 0.3% n/a
Total votes 3,482,445 100.0% n/a
Democratic hold

See also

References
  1. "Results of SurveyUSA News Poll #11152". SurveyUSA. November 2006. Retrieved February 5, 2007.
  2. "Voters still say Lautenberg is too old". PolitickerNJ.com, September 25, 2007. Accessed April 8, 2008.
  3. "Election 2008: New Jersey Senate - New Jersey Senate Race a Dead Heat" Archived June 22, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, Rasmussen Reports, June 9, 2008. Accessed June 9, 2008.
  4. Official results for 2008 primary elections, New Jersey Division of Elections (PDF Archived August 6, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, July 11, 2008)
  5. 2008 General Election Candidate Certification Archived October 1, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey Division of Elections. Accessed September 28, 2008
  6. Populist Write-In Candidate for Senate, Carl Peter Klapper, Advocates Adjustable Equity Mortgages, Third Bank of the US to solve financial crisis
  7. Burton, Cynthia. "Lautenberg and Zimmer spar over issues", The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 30, 2008.
  8. Schwaneberg, Robert. Lautenberg, Zimmer agree to debate on Nov. 1, The Star-Ledger, October 1, 2008.
  9. https://web.archive.org/web/20080622095354/http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_senate_elections/new_jersey/election_2008_new_jersey_senate
  10. https://web.archive.org/web/20081023203700/http://www.clubforgrowth.org/2008/08/new_poll_in_njsen_race.php
  11. https://web.archive.org/web/20080912045931/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_senate_elections/new_jersey/election_2008_new_jersey_senate
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