"There is no doubt in my mind or in the minds of any of my campaign staff that the shutdown cost me the election," Lonegan told the Star-Ledger in a "post-mortem interview" Monday. "If I had known it was going to happen and that it was going to be handled so badly in Washington, I wouldn't have run for the Senate."

"Republicans need to hold firm because seven days from today when Bob Menendez escorts me down the Senate aisle for my swearing in, the message about what our party should do will be clear for all," Lonegan maintained.

"My victory in this election on Wednesday will send a message to Barack Obama, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi that the American people want an end to Obamacare and the rest of the President’s radical agenda."