Inquirer endorses Menendez for U.S. Senate
10/15/2006, The Associated Press   

TRENTION, N.J. (AP) — The Philadelphia Inquirer on Sunday endorsed Democrat Robert Menendez for the U.S. Senate, praising him for having "the superior experience, intellect and grasp of the issues."

Noting that both Menendez and Republican challenger Tom Kean Jr. are better than the negative ads they have run during the campaign, the newspaper chose the 52-year-old Hudson County Democrat in what it termed a close call between two good choices.

Menendez "has fought successfully for prescription drug coverage, port security, and transportation and Amtrak funding. He has the leadership to get legislation passed," it wrote.

The newspaper said Kean's five years in Trenton "don't match his foe's experience and his issues talk often seems glib and shallow."

Recent polls show the race virtually deadlocked, although Menendez has a slight edge outside the polls' error margin in a few surveys.

In the latest Quinnipiac University poll, Kean led Menendez on the issue of honesty. He has tried to make ethics a cornerstone of his campaign, while Menendez has tried to paint Kean as a mouthpiece of President Bush, whose job approval rating has dropped.

The candidates are scheduled to debate Tuesday night at 7 p.m. on New Jersey 101.5 FM radio. Voters can e-mail the station with their questions, some of which will be chosen to be put to the candidates.