Prospects looking ‘bleak’ for New Jersey Republican who went missing for months

Embattled New Jersey Rep. Thomas Kean Jr.’s (R) hopes of hanging on to his battleground seat may be dimming after national Republicans effectively abandoned the race last week. 

The fierce contest between Kean and Democrat Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot, has tipped in her favor in recent weeks. The Congressional Leadership Fund (CLF), a PAC backed by House GOP leadership, reportedly canceled its remaining advertising for the race.

Ashley Koning, director of the polling operation at Rutgers University, called the CLF’s move a “death knell” for Kean.

“They are also trying to triage across the country and putting their money in races that they deem more winnable and don’t necessarily see those same possible changes for Kean,” Koning said, referencing the tough political environment for Republicans. She characterized his chances in November as “bleak.”

Kean made national headlines earlier this year after a more than 100-day absence from his duties in the House. He revealed the reason for his absence — depression — only after his return to Capitol Hill in June. Kean has voted against paid sick leave legislation both in Congress and during his time in the New Jersey state House. 

“As the over 48 million of my fellow Americans being treated for this illness have come to discover, there is no timeline for healing. There is no........

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