Charging ahead to Tuesday, NJ Republican State Party Chairman Doug Steinhardt said he likes the chances of his candidate for the United States senate: former Celgene executive Bob Hugin.

Democrats say the election is ultimately about the national stewardship of President Donald J. Trump and the impact of his policies on New Jersey.

But Steinhardt said he respectfully disagrees with Essex County Democratic Committee Chairman Leroy Jones about the overriding focus of the election.

“The Democrats want it to work both ways,” said the party chairman. “They want to spend millions trying to rehabilitate [incumbent U.S. Senator Bob] Menendez, and then they want the election to be about Trump. It’s like saying ‘look at my right hand, but don’t look at what’s in my left.’ You cant have your cake and eat it too, which is what most people will be thinking when they vote next week. They will be thinking about and comparing the New Jersey records between two New Jersey candidates.

“Menendez had a fascinating observation in the debate last week, about how you can’t change who you’ve been for 60 years in 60 minutes, and I agree with him,” Steinhardt added. “New Jersey’s 50 out of 50 in terms of what we get back from Washington and this senator has proved that he will sell his office to a donor, to a guy who gave him millions and gifts. Menendez has had a chance and he failed. He can’t get past his personal and political record, and people will vote on that basis.”