SOMERVILLE – They say jazz legend Bill Evans learned how to play the piano here in this freight train jam-up now heavy with dirge-like partisan political chords, as Somerset GOP Chair Al Gaburo and Somerset Democratic Chair Peg Schaffer tangle against the backdrop of this season’s contests.

For Gaburo, U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance’s (R-7) and the Republican county freeholder incumbents admittedly have to bear the Golgotha effect of President Donald J. Trump, but the chairman argued that he thinks the anvil of U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) sinks Democratic challenger Tom Malinowski and Schaffer’s countywide hopefuls.

“Let’s start at the top of the ticket,” Gaburo told InsiderNJ, reflecting on the Democratic-targeted CD7 contest. “Menendez has a… 29% favorability rating in Somerset County, and Trump’s at 38%. Those are fresh numbers.”

The chairman gleefully noted how for days a “Menendez for Senate” sign has languished on the backend of the Dems’ downtown headquarters.

Malinowski’s sign stands proudly up front, but Menendez’s occupies the rear.

“It’s telling,” observed the GOP chair.

Schaffer said they have no problem putting Menendez up front, and said Trump will kayo Lance.

“Trump’s rhetoric will finish off Leonard Lance,” said Schaffer, who disputed Gaburo’s polling in Somerset.

At last week’s official HQ opening, Schaffer and her soldiers were ready with a giant balloon of Trump to mark the occasion of what they see as Lance’s imminent political demise.

Gaburo says nonsense.

“It’s a Republican district,” the chairman affirmed.