1988 NJ Senatorial Election

Incumbent Frank Lautenberg vs Retired Brigadier General Peter Dawkins. If there's anything that can be said about this race, is that it was a mudslinging grudgematch that drew both candidates deep into the gutters of NJ politics and resulted in Lautenberg's largest Class 1 Win

Dawkins was recruited by Incumbent Governor Tom Kean, with Kean saying that:

"Dawkins had exhibited intelligence and dedication in becoming 'the only West Point cadet in history to be the Captain of Cadets, president of his class...finish in the top 5 percent of his class, and, by the way, pick up a Heisman Trophy and Rhodes Scholarship on the side'"(NYT)

However, Carpetbagging allegations dogged Dawkins throughout the entire campaign, having been born in Michigan, moved around a lot for his military service, eventually moving to Manhattan and working as an investment banker before moving to Rumson in 1987 just before he ran.

To this effect, one of Lautenberg's ads utilized a phrase that Dawkins said in his announcement speech, that ' he chose to live in NJ' - an allusion to his military service - with a narrator saying "Be real pete".

This coming alongside Lautenberg (a veteran himself who benefited from the GI bill of rights) accusing Dawkins of lying about his Millitary record

These accusations did not go unresponded, with Dawkins accusing Lautenberg of being corrupt, whilst the NJ GOP tried tying dawkins to the state's most popular Dem, Sen. Bill Bradley, saying that if Dawkins were elected NJ would have two Rhodes Scholars in the Senate

In the end, Whilst outperforming Dukakis by 22.01%, Lautenberg won reelection, winning by 8.37% and reducing Dawkins to the GOP's traditional Strongholds in Northwestern NJ and Ocean, plus Salem and Cape May Counties.

In terms of Congressional Districts, Lautenberg won 10/14 to Dawkin's 4/14, in terms of Legislative districts Lautenberg won 29/40 to Dawkin's 11/40, and in terms of counties Lautenberg won 13/21 to Dawkin's 8/21.

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