Using an unscripted four-minute campaign video, Rep. Andy Kim (D-Moorestown) wants to set the tone of his campaign for the United States Senate by using footage of a focus group that includes hearing from real New Jerseyans.
Kim, a three-term congressman from South Jersey who worked in the Obama White House, is seeking the seat of incumbent Bob Menendez, who is under indictment on charges of bribery, conspiracy and illegally acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government.
“I’m tired of our broken politics and constantly having politicians put their personal ambitions over public service,” Kim said. “I know I’m not alone, as people across New Jersey are sick of corruption and out-of-touch politicians. I’m ready to make a change and demand a politics of integrity that is focused on the people.”
The video features Kim in a conversation with New Jersey residents about what’s happening in the country.
“There’s so much on my mind. Yeah, it’s like hard to pick one. I mean, you can go from women’s rights to what’s happening in the Middle East right now,” one woman said. “I mean, it’s just the world is pretty scary.”
One man spoke of affordability: “It’s almost impossible now to. Live comfortably in New Jersey if you don’t have a very high-paying job.”
Kim asked the group what they thought about Menendez’s indictment – a question answered by a sort of “that’s New Jersey” attitude.
“I’m someone that’s in politics now, but this is not where I came from. I was a diplomat in national security before I served out in Afghanistan. I was in the Pentagon. For me, being in public service demands the highest of standards, and so that’s what kind of pushed me,” Kim said. “After he said that he’s now resigning, that’s when I decided to step up and challenge him.”
One man told Kim: “I appreciate your authenticity. You give off the impression that he’s sincere, he’s honest – I can trust this guy.”
Kim told the group that he’s running for his kids – a theme he’s used since he first ran for Congress five years ago.
“I want to do it for them,” he said. “I look at all the craziness in the world, and I look at this, and I just say, like, I don’t want my kids to grow up in a broken America. Like, I don’t want my kids to have to experience.”
Asked if Kim thought he could effectuate change as a U.S. Senate, Kim responded with three words: “Yes, I do.”