first lady Tammy Murphy and Congressman Andy Kim searched for weak spots in last night's Senate debate they also both tried to use the hour and a half to make their case to new jerseyans as to why a Democrat should be elected to office so how do Republicans counter the early momentum for Democrats in this race joining me now to share his perspective on the debate is Republican strategist Chris Russell all right Chris first off who do you think came off better in this debate and who had the stronger performance well listen I think Andy Kim certainly is the smoother of the two when debating I I thought um Tammy Murphy got better I thought as the debate went on but at the beginning she would looked nervous I I thought and this is just something you know I would look at I thought her background setting was strange uh he you know Kim just looked a little bit more polished and professional throughout and I thought um you know that's certainly an advantage I I think these Zoom debates are also very difficult because clearly at the beginning at least Tammy Murphy on her opening statement was reading it uh and I whether Andy Kim was or he wasn't I couldn't tell so I I thought Kim was the winner in style certainly interesting point you know a recurring point of contention was Party Loyalty Kim questioned Murphy's background as a Republican and she jabbed back by reminding him of his working with the Bush Administration and arguing he' voted in favor of funding for Trump's border ball which he denied was this a successful line of attack for either candidate um listen I I think with the Tammy Murphy whether she's a good Democrat or not because she was at once a republican I don't know that that really sticks I also don't think the attack that Andy Kim is somehow disloyal because he voted for a few you know bills in Congress or or certain motions in Congress that may have sided him with Republicans he was in a competitive District at the time so I thought both of those attacks fell flat in my mind I thought where Andy Kim really uh was able to hit her though is the idea that you when tamy Murphy is talking about we need a new generation we needed we need to get away from the status quo I mean Andy Kim as younger he would be the first korean-american in that role in the United States Senate um Tammy Murphy is the the wife of the governor and whether she likes it or not and I know it's an inconvenient thing for the campaign but it's impossible for her to call someone else the status quo when she is coming at from that role and has all the Party Support she has so I thought both of their attacks on on kind of who's more who's a more Democrat or who's more legitimate as Democrat fell flat but I thought overall I just don't see how Tammy Murphy gets around the idea that she's the first lady and is being handed uh all these county lines I think it's a very difficult argument for her to make that she's somehow uh you know the fresh face here well Chris here's the thing you know it didn't seem there didn't seem to be a lot of political differences between the two candidates what do you think voters will be basing their decision on who to vote for in June I I think they're going to base their decision on a few things listen the party lines have impact so that will help uh Tammy Murphy in this thing at some level she's going to derive a benefit from the county lines I just don't know that it'll be enough to overcome Kim I think people are looking at this race uh and and you know as they say in boxing right fights are about uh you know matchups and styles and I think in this case Andy cam has a perfect argument to make against her that she is uh the candidate of the Insiders she's someone who's being handed the nomination on a platter because who she is not what she's done and I think that's something that is going to help drive this Underdog narrative for Kim he's raising a lot of money so he's not going to be outspent here um I you know I like I like his chances in this thing to pull off a big upset I think the Murphy's bit off more than they can chew on this one and that it just is not sitting right with voters in their own party and just lastly before we wrap it's been more than 50 years Chris since New Jersey sent a republican to the Senate do you see a pathway for any of the Republican candidates who have declared their running listen certainly there's a pathway I mean listen we we've elected governors in the state multiple times we've uh you know Jack Chelli almost pulled off an upset against Governor Murphy in 21 so I while New Jersey is a blue State I don't think it's a far-left state or or or a far a very liberal state so I think there's an opportunity however as we've said I mean 5050 years is not just an accident right there's a reason why that's happening I think there's a a difficulty Republicans have to win a US Senate race in this state that's been proven over time I think if Tammy Murphy is the nominee she opens up a different line of attack for them uh to to attack her as again same way Kim is which I think is compelling but I think this is racist challenging for Republicans at the end of the day but we have we have several good candidates uh and and politics is unpredictable that's why we're talking about it that's why people love reading about it so you never know if you're on the ballot you can win and I think the Republicans whoever emerges you know will have to run a good campaign but there's always a path that's right you never know Chris thanks for joining me you too thank you for having me