Some of the state's highest-profile advocates for women and the LGBT community gathered Friday to assail the record of Bob Hugin, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, warning if he defeats incumbent Bob Menendez, the state's progress on same-sex marriage and women's rights would be in jeopardy.

Menendez and his supporters staged the rally across from the Princeton University campus as a reminder to voters how Hugin had once fought efforts to open Princeton University's famed all-male eating clubs to women.

In June , Hugin expressed regret for his role, saying "The decision, made by the undergraduate members, to admit women back in the early 90s was without question the right thing to do."

Elizabeth Meyer, founder of the New Jersey Women's March, scoffed at Hugin's remarks that he "evolved over time." She challenged his campaign ad message that he is "a different kind of Republican."

In a new television ad, Hugin identifies himself as supporting abortion rights, same-sex marriage and equal pay. He includes his support of LGBT rights on his campaign website.

She said as a mother, she fears her daughters will grow up in a country in which women have fewer rights than she does now.

"Electing Bob Hugin would mean sending to the Senate a minion of Donald Trump," Meyer said. "He fought for more than a decade against's women's inclusion at Princeton, gave hundreds of thousands of dollars to support Trump, the Heritage Foundation and right-wing politicians that have repeatedly voted to defund Planned Parenthood and repeal the Affordable Care Act, denying women access to the health care they deserve."

In a statement later in the day, Hugin chastised his opponent for "trying to paint me as something I'm not." He also released a statement from a group of LGBT local elected officials and community leaders saying he is "a man of character, honor, and integrity and he will be a strong advocate for the LGTBQ community."

"I'm proud that my views have evolved over the four decades and I view that as a positive. It's unfortunate that someone who has spent 25 years in Washington has nothing positive to campaign on and instead has to resort to political attacks like these," Hugin's statement said. "As Senator, I will put people above party and politics to get results for the people of New Jersey. Another six years of failure is not an option."

Menendez's appearance showed an avenue of attack he will take as faces his toughest challenge yet in a run for a third full term as U.S. Senator.

Hugin and his allies have flooded the state's TV airwaves with negative ads highlighting recent federal corruption charges against Menendez. He was acquitted thanks to a hung jury, and the federal government dropped all charges rather than retry him. In April, he was admonished by the Senate Ethics Committee for accepting gifts from a friend and campaign donor.

Earlier Friday, Hugin blasted Gov. Phil Murphy for praising Menendez, saying in a statement that "his loyalty to party over principles when it comes to Senator Menendez is embarrassing."

In Princeton, Meyer was interrupted by sign-waving Hugin supporters who stood outside the rally's perimeter and shouted that Menendez was corrupt and should resign. Meyer retorted: "I know who you are and whose office sent you, and it does make sense that you would try to stifle the voice of a woman."

Hugin's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Menendez and his backers also pointed to Hugin's support, stated in a recent WPIX New York interview, for U.S. Supreme Court Justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh as proof he should not be elected. Last week, a woman who knew Kavanugh as a teenager came forward to say he tried to sexual assault her at a high school party. Kavanaugh denies the allegations.

"I know what I was doing 35 years ago," Menendez said. "I've spent my entire life fighting for equal rights for every American...Hugin has had ample opportunity to take a principled stand against Trump over the last two years. He failed to do so," he said.

"Hugin stood with Trump when he nominated two anti-choice justices, like Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh...He supports both. But he's a different kind of Republican," Menendez said sarcastically.

A statewide Quinnipiac University poll from August found Menendez leading Hugin, 43 percent to 37 percent -- but that's a 17-point drop from a poll by the same group in March.

Louise Walpin and Marsha Shapiro, the lead plaintiffs who sued for the rights of gay couples to marry in New Jersey, also lent their support for Menendez. Citing campaign finance records, Walpin noted Hugin had donated $200,000 to the National Republican Committee, which in its party platform defined marriage as the union between a man and a woman.

Shapiro said she was recently diagnosed with cancer, and worries the federal government will someday not recognize her marriage -- jeopardizing her health care and social security benefits.

Staff writers Brent Johnson and Jonathan Salant contributed to this report.

Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.