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There are two things that are certain in life, death and taxes; and people don't like either. This is something which Bill Bradley's final 1990 squeaker reelection against underfunded former Somerset County Freeholder Christine Todd Whitman shows quite clearly.
Outspent 12-1, Bradley's history as a Knicks star, the architect of the 1986 Federal Tax Bill, and having been the state's most popular democrat since his first election in 1978 was overshadowed by Governor Jim Florio's infamous 1990 Tax increase.
This came despite Bradley's avoidance of the issue up to the end of the campaign, where sencing the shifting waters, he accused whitman of having Raised Somerset Taxes as Freeholder
Beyond the issue of Taxes, Bradley's aloofness became a major issue to voters; with his refusal to answer questions about said taxes in addition to certain ads ran, and the Senator's expectation that his senatorial clout would secure him a third term, rubbing voters the wrong way
However, due to lingering personal strength, incumbency, and outspending Whitman, despite the fact that the squeaker was supposed to be an easy win for the Bradley, he still won.
To which the former Knicks star said "If you're in a world championship and you win by one point, you're still the champion, If you're running for the Senate and you win by one vote, you're still in the Senate"(Source).
In the end, due to his margins in South Jersey, Essex and Hudson against Whitman's strength in the Ancestrally GOP Morris, Somerset, Hunterdon, Sussex, and at the time swingier Ocean Counties Bill Bradley - to borrow his words - "was still in the Senate" come 1991.
Bradley won 12/21 Counties 7/14 House Districts and 23/40 Legislative Districts compared to Whitmans 9/21 Counties 7/14 House Districts and 17/40 Legislative Districts
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