A super PAC supporting Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla for the Democratic nomination for Congress in New Jersey’s 8th district is airing a new TV ad linking Rep. Rob Menendez (D-Jersey City) with his indicted father, U.S. Senator Bob Menendez.
The ad, paid for by America’s Promise, places photos of Rob and Bob Menendez on apples, saying that “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” and noting that the freshman congressman has stood behind his father and not returned campaign contributions from campaign committees and PACs controlled by the three-term U.S. Senator.
According to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission, America’s Promise has spent $100,000 on Bhalla.
The Justice Department has accused Bob Menendez of accepting bribes and engaging in a criminal conspiracy, including serving as an unregistered representative of foreign governments while chairing the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Script: “They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, so it’s no wonder that Rob Menendez is defending his father’s corruption. Prosecutors say Senator Menendez took gold bars, a Mercedes, and thousands in bribes in exchange for political favors. But Rob says he strongly believes in his father’s integrity and values, and he’s refused to give his father’s dirty money back. Jersey has enough bad apples. Rob Menendez: rotten to the core.”
Bhalla, a two-term mayor, began to pursue the congressional seat after Bob Menendez was indicted in September 2023.
Menendez and Bhalla will face off in their first debate on Sunday, May 5 at 8 PM. The debate is sponsored by the New Jersey Globe, On New Jersey, and Rider University.