Trump endorses Hugin

President Donald Trump has endorsed Bob Hugin for U.S. Senate.

The president’s endorsement came in the form of a 1:08 PM tweet.

“Bob Hugin, successful all of his life, would be a Great Senator from New Jersey. He has my complete and total Endorsement! Get out and Vote for Bob,” Trump said.

Hugin has distanced himself from Trump during his bid to become the first Republican to win a U.S. Senate seat from New Jersey in 46 years, calling himself an “independent” and a “different kind of Republican.”  He consistently dodged questions on the campaign trail about whether he wanted Trump’s support, or if Trump would campaign for him.

Hugin has strong ties to President Donald Trump. He was a Trump delegate to the 2016 Republican National Convention, gave $100,000 to a super PAC backing Trump, $5,200 directly to the Trump campaigns, and $150,000 to the Republican National Committee in the 2016 cycle. He also contributed directly to twenty state parties across the country. He was on a finance committee to raise money for Trump’s transition team.

Even though Trump waited until seven hours after the polls close in New Jersey opened, the president has been a huge factor in the campaign. Democratic U.S. Senator Bob Menendez consistently attacked Hugin’s ties to Trump in television ads and at campaign events.

Despite the short time left before the election’s end, Trump’s endorsement may have an effect on Hugin’s race, said Rebovich Institute Director Micah Rasmussen.

“The last thing you saw can matter. If it’s going to matter anywhere, it’s going to matter in New Jersey,” Rasmussen said. “You have to say that Trump’s disapproval is hurting the most in a blue state like New Jersey, so I would say for anybody who hasn’t voted yet and sees it and it’s the last thing that they see, it certainly could have an impact.”

It’s not exactly clear what effect the endorsement will have, especially given its timing, but Menendez certainly thought it played to his favor.

“Thank you,” Menendez tweeted, quoting Trump’s endorsement.