New Jersey paper says to hold your nose and vote for Menendez

Washington Times:

Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey isn’t likely to tout his endorsement by the state’s largest newspaper any time soon.

Voters in the Garden State will head to the polls next week and the Newark-based New Jersey Star-Ledger is telling them to “choke down” a Menendez salad instead of opting for Republican challenger Bob Hugin.

“It’s a miracle that Menendez escaped criminal conviction,” the editorial board wrote of his November 2017 mistrial on bribery and fraud charges. “[It’s] an act of profound narcissism that he stayed in the race despite this baggage, putting a Democratic seat at risk while Donald Trump sits in the White House.”

The newspaper’s editors admonished him for breaking Senate rules by surreptitiously accepting expensive gifts and promoting “the personal and business interests of the man who paid the bills,” but they ultimately rejected Mr. Hugin.

“The bigger concern is Hugin’s admiration for Trump,” the newspaper wrote. “Many Republicans felt duty-bound to support Trump in 2016, but Hugin charged to the front of the parade and waved the flag.”
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It reminds me of the old Louisana campaign slogan, "Vote for the crook.  It is important."  It is typical of New Jersey politics where corruption is not a reason to vote against someone.