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NARR: Tom Kean Junior's father served as Governor...and Co-Chair of the federal commission that investigated the terrorist attacks of September Eleventh, Two Thousand One. The candidate's great-grandfather and great-great uncle served in the U.S. Senate-- in the same seat Tom Kean Junior hopes to hold.
A seat that hasn't been held by a Republican since 1972. Kean supporter Art Neeley says the candidate's family is New Jersey's answer to the Kennedy clan.'
AX: …and just how the Kennedys have done great for Massachusetts I hope that Kean will do a nice job here in New Jersey as well.
NARR: Other voters like Juan Jiminez, feel relying on the family name may have backfired on Kean. Jiminez says the Republican candidate spent too much time making appearances with his father
and not enough time focusing on the issues.
AX: …shallow grasp of the policy he's basically moving and running on his name. He's a namesake, a scion of a famous family and that's where he's getting his vote.
NARR: But Tom Kean Junior says, his family has done great things for New Jersey in the past, and he's prepared to carry on its legacy.
AX: I was taught by my grandfather and my father that it's important to be proud of your ancestors but it's more important that they would be proud of you and I'm proud of my record in the
state senate, I'm proud of my record in the assembly.
NARR: Although Kean has the name, he's facing Bob Menendez, the
Democratic incumbent. But if recent polls—which have shown Menendez with a small but consistent lead—are any indication, the Kean name may not be enough to take the seat. Teal Anderson, Columbia Radio News.