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Senate Street Poll
(by Mark J. Bonamo - May 21, 2008)
Hackensack speaks up about primary
The June 3 Democratic primary will decide whether incumbent U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, 84, will withstand the challenge of U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews, 50, who wants to take Lautenberg’s place as the Democratic standard-bearer in the November general election.
Hackensack Chronicle took a walk down Main Street to see whether people think Bergen County resident Lautenberg still has what it takes to fight for New Jersey in Washington, D.C., or if maybe South Jersey’s Andrews is ready to step up to the Senate.
took a walk down Main Street to see whether people think Bergen County resident Lautenberg still has what it takes to fight for New Jersey in Washington, D.C., or if maybe South Jersey’s Andrews is ready to step up to the Senate.
James Malki, 25, works in Hackensack
"I have no idea who’s going to win because I don’t know anything about either of them. I primarily vote just in presidential elections. I don’t usually hear enough about who is running for state office. I watch the news, but if nothing sticks out to me, if not just going to vote for anyone. Even though I support Democrats, I’m not going to vote for anybody that I don’t know about."
Hugh Carola, 50, Hackensack resident
"I think Sen. Lautenberg will win, one reason being the recognition that he has statewide. Congressman Andrews certainly has a very admirable record, but I don’t think he has the statewide recognition Lautenberg does. I also think that Andrews started his campaign a little bit too late. If he had started his campaign perhaps a year ago, he would have had more time to go around the state and show his face and speak to people."
"I lean towards voting for Lautenberg. When he first ran, I didn’t vote for him because I didn’t trust him. Coming from big business, I didn’t know where he would stand on the issues of the environment, civil rights and economic policy. He certainly has proven to be great on all of these issues and pretty much every other issue that I care about, including Iraq."
Haydee Gomez, 18, Hackensack resident
"Frank Lautenberg will win and he should win because of his experience. He can still do a good job to raise up Bergen County and the entire state, which is in need of dire help in the midst of a recession, back to where it should be. I don’t think that age should be a factor. We shouldn’t discriminate against him because he’s older. I think that he’s able, and ability and experience is what should count."
"People should definitely vote because every vote counts. We’re exercising our rights as Americans. It has to start from somewhere. It’s important for everyone to be involved, because the consequences involve everyone."
Angel Nabas, 20, Hackensack resident
"I really don’t care who wins or not. No matter who wins, it’s going to be the same thing. They say they are going to do this and change that, but they never do. Everybody tells me to vote to make a change. George W. Bush said he was going to make a change. What happened? We went to war. Now we’re fighting for nothing. Whoever wins, they’re going to forget what they said that they are going to do. Then they’re never going to do it."
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