New Jersey Senate: Kean (R)! Ahead Of Menendez

Yup, in blue New Jersey, an incumbant Democratic Senator is falling behind in the polls:

New Jersey State Sen. Tom Kean, Jr., the Republican challenger, leads Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez 48 - 45 percent among New Jersey likely voters, including leaners, in the U.S. Senate race, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Another 6 percent remain undecided.

By a 40 - 13 percent margin, New Jersey voters say Kean is "honest and trustworthy," with 47 percent undecided. By a 33 - 24 percent margin, voters say Menendez is "honest and trustworthy," with 43 percent undecided.

In a state riddled by government corruption at all levels, this may be key. More:

Menendez is part of the ethics problem, 31 percent of voters say, while 28 percent say he is part of the solution, with 42 percent undecided.
Kean is part of the solution to the problem of ethics in government, 36 percent of voters say, while only 18 percent say he is part of the problem...

This one is going to go down to the wire, with Menendez chanting "BushBushBush" on a daily basis, and Kean going after Menendez for his ethical issues. The Democrats have no chance of recapturing the Senate if New Jersey is lost; watch for them to bring in the big guns to fire as much mud as possible in the closing weeks of the campaign.

This is gonna get ugly....

UPDATE: And a black Republican is leading the Maryland Senate race....those Democrats that talk about an "electoral landslide" in November; you know, I do not think it means what they think it means...