President Barack Obama maintains a majority positive job rating in New Jersey, and has improved his prospects for picking up New Jersey’s 14 electoral votes in November, according to the latest Monmouth University/NJ Press Media Poll . Senator Bob Menendez continues to have less stellar ratings than the president, with a large chunk of voters sitting on the fence regarding his re-election.
Currently, Pres. Obama earns a 56% approve to 38% disapprove job rating among all Garden State residents. Among registered voters, his rating stands at 54% approve to 41% disapprove, a slight improvement on his 51% positive rating in February. More importantly, Pres. Obama now has 50% of New Jersey voters saying he deserves to be re-elected, up from 47% in February and 46% in October. Another 40% say it is time to have someone else in the Oval Office, which is down from 45% in February and 47% in October.
Pres. Obama will be sharing the New Jersey ballot with Sen. Menendez this November. The Senator’s numbers are not as high as the President’s, but they are in net positive territory. Sen. Menendez earns a 40% approval rating from Garden State voters to a 25% disapproval rating. Another 35% have no opinion on his job performance. These results are similar to polls conducted over the past two years.
When asked whether Sen. Menendez deserves to be sent back to DC, just 26% of Garden State voters say “yes”, while 32% say “no” and a whopping 41% are undecided. Even 46% of state Democrats say they are uncommitted about the Senator’s reelection. These numbers are just slightly improved from February, when 21% said he deserved reelection to 32% who said he did not.
Sen. Menendez’s probable opponent in November, state legislator Joe Kyrillos, is recognized by just 19% of voters statewide, with 6% having a favorable opinion of him and 2% unfavorable. These numbers are basically unchanged from a poll taken shortly after the Republican launched his campaign in February.
“Given President Obama’s improving prospects in New Jersey, the magic word in Menendez campaign headquarters right now has got to be “coattails’,” said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute.
The poll also found Senator Frank Lautenberg with 41% approve to 32% disapprove ratings among New Jersey voters. Another 27% have no opinion. These numbers are basically unchanged from polls taken since August 2011.
The Monmouth University/NJ Press Media Poll also asked New Jersey residents about the impact of rising fuel costs, with prices at the pump approaching the $4.00 mark as they did this time last year and in the summer of 2008. Fully 4-in-10 (40%) New Jerseyans say they are experiencing a lot of financial hardship due to rising gasoline prices. Another 32% are feeling a little hardship and 28% say that they are feeling no financial pinch from gas prices. These findings are similar to New Jersey polls conducted in May 2011 and July 2008. However, these results differ somewhat from a recent national ABC News/Washington Post Poll which found 62% of Americans saying gas prices are a hardship, compared with 72% in New Jersey.
As may be expected, rising gas prices are more likely to hurt low and middle income families, but less so than a year ago. Nearly half (46%) of those earning under $50,000 feel a lot of hardship, which is down from 55% last year. Just over 4-in-10 (42%) of those earning $50,000 to $100,000 are feeling a lot of hardship, down from 49% last year. In comparison, fewer residents (29%) earning more than $100,000 say gas prices are causing them a lot of financial hardship, but this number is actually up from 21% a year ago.
“As we saw when gas prices reached this level in the past, New Jerseyans have turned to some familiar strategies to cope with the financial burden,” said Murray.
Overall, 56% of the state’s drivers say they have cut back on weekend or vacation driving and an similar 57% have reduced general household spending. These numbers are slightly lower than the percentage reporting the same activities in May 2011 when it was 61% for both, but they are similar to the July 2008 poll when 58% cut back on driving and 56% cut back on other spending. In the current poll, 17% report carpooling to work, similar to the 18% reported in 2011 and 20% reported in 2008.
The Monmouth University/NJ Press Media Poll was conducted by telephone with 804 New Jersey adults from April 11 to 15, 2012. This sample has a margin of error of ± 3.5 percent. The poll was conducted by the Monmouth University Polling Institute and originally published by the NJ Press Media newspaper group (Asbury Park Press, Courier-Post, Courier News, Daily Journal, Daily Record, and Home News Tribune).
DATA TABLES
The questions referred to in this release are as follows:
(* Some columns may not add to 100% due to rounding.)
1. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Barack Obama is doing as president?
|
TOTAL | REGISTERED VOTER | PARTY ID | RACE | AGE |
INCOME | |||||||||
|
Yes | No | Dem | Ind | Rep | White | Black & Hisp | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | <$50K | $50 to $100K |
>$100K | ||
| Approve | 56% | 54% | 63% | 87% | 49% | 20% | 43% | 86% | 66% | 50% | 54% | 63% | 55% | 49% |
| Disapprove | 38% | 41% | 26% | 10% | 42% | 77% | 51% | 11% | 29% | 42% | 42% | 31% | 39% | 45% |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 6% | 5% | 11% | 3% | 9% | 4% | 6% | 4% | 5% | 8% | 5% | 6% | 6% | 6% |
| TREND: Registered voters only | April 2012 | Feb. 2012 | Oct. 2011 | Aug. 2011 | May 2011 | Sept. 2010 | July 2010 | April 2010 | Feb. 2010 | Oct. 2009 | July 2009 |
| Approve | 54% | 51% | 47% | 52% | 60% | 47% | 51% | 54% | 53% | 54% | 59% |
| Disapprove | 41% | 42% | 46% | 39% | 36% | 44% | 42% | 41% | 38% | 33% | 29% |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 5% | 6% | 7% | 9% | 4% | 9% | 6% | 5% | 9% | 14% | 12% |
| Unwtd N |
692 | 709 | 693 | 730 | 725 | 726 | 747 | 719 | 716 | 785 |
792 |
[QUESTIONS 2 AND 3 WERE ROTATED]
2. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Frank Lautenberg is doing as United States Senator?
|
TOTAL | REGISTERED VOTER | PARTY ID | RACE | AGE |
INCOME | |||||||||
|
Yes | No | Dem | Ind | Rep | White | Black & Hisp | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | <$50K | $50 to $100K |
>$100K | ||
| Approve | 41% | 41% | 40% | 63% | 36% | 20% | 39% | 48% | 39% | 40% | 44% | 47% | 44% | 32% |
| Disapprove | 30% | 32% | 21% | 9% | 36% | 52% | 38% | 18% | 22% | 29% | 39% | 31% | 28% | 33% |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 29% | 27% | 39% | 28% | 29% | 28% | 23% | 34% | 39% | 31% | 17% | 22% | 28% | 35% |
| TREND: Registered voters only | April 2012 | Feb. 2012 | Oct. 2011 | Aug. 2011 | May 2011 | July 2010 | Oct. 2008 | July 2008 | April 2008 | Jan. 2008 |
| Approve | 41% | 39% | 43% | 41% | 48% | 47% | 48% | 45% | 48% | 43% |
| Disapprove | 32% | 33% | 31% | 32% | 30% | 33% | 28% | 33% | 31% | 28% |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 27% | 28% | 27% | 26% | 21% | 21% | 24% | 22% | 21% | 30% |
| Unwtd N |
692 | 709 | 693 | 730 | 725 | 747 | 900 | 874 | 720 |
698 |
3. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Bob Menendez is doing as United States Senator?
|
TOTAL | REGISTERED VOTER | PARTY ID | RACE | AGE |
INCOME | |||||||||
|
Yes | No | Dem | Ind | Rep | White | Black & Hisp | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | <$50K | $50 to $100K |
>$100K | ||
| Approve | 40% | 40% | 41% | 55% | 39% | 20% | 38% | 51% | 46% | 34% | 42% | 44% | 41% | 38% |
| Disapprove | 24% | 25% | 20% | 9% | 28% | 44% | 31% | 11% | 18% | 27% | 28% | 23% | 26% | 24% |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 35% | 35% | 38% | 36% | 33% | 36% | 31% | 38% | 36% | 40% | 29% | 33% | 32% | 38% |
| TREND: Registered voters only | April 2012 | Feb. 2012 | Oct. 2011 | Aug. 2011 | May 2011 | July 2010 | Oct. 2008 | April 2008 | Jan. 2008 |
| Approve | 40% | 41% | 43% | 38% | 46% | 38% | 34% | 41% | 37% |
| Disapprove | 25% | 26% | 29% | 33% | 28% | 33% | 25% | 31% | 25% |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 35% | 33% | 28% | 29% | 26% | 29% | 41% | 28% | 37% |
| Unwtd N |
692 | 709 | 693 | 730 | 725 | 747 | 900 | 720 |
698 |
[QUESTIONS 4 THROUGH 6 WERE ASKED OF REGISTERED VOTERS ONLY]
4. Looking ahead to November’s election for president, do you think that Barack Obama should be re-elected, or do you think that it is time to have someone else in office?
REGISTERED | PARTY ID | RACE | AGE | INCOME | ||||||||
|
Dem | Ind | Rep | White | Black & Hisp | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | <$50K | $50 to $100K |
>$100K | ||
| Should be re-elected | 50% | 86% | 40% | 15% | 40% | 78% | 62% | 49% | 46% | 57% | 54% | 45% |
| Time to have someone else in office | 40% | 9% | 45% | 80% | 52% | 11% | 31% | 41% | 45% | 37% | 37% | 44% |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 9% | 6% | 15% | 5% | 8% | 11% | 6% | 11% | 10% | 6% | 9% | 11% |
| TREND: Registered voters only | April 2012 | Feb. 2012 | Oct. 2011 |
| Should be re-elected | 50% | 47% | 46% |
| Time to have someone else in office | 40% | 45% | 47% |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 9% | 8% | 7% |
| Unwtd N | 692 | 709 | 693 |
5. Senator Menendez is up for re-election this year. Do you think that he should be re-elected, do you think that it is time to have someone else in office, or do you have no opinion on this?
REGISTERED VOTER | PARTY ID | RACE | AGE | INCOME | ||||||||
| Dem | Ind | Rep | White | Black & Hisp | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | <$50K | $50 to $100K | >$100K | ||
| Should be re-elected | 26% | 39% | 24% | 7% | 22% | 37% | 28% | 22% | 28% | 25% | 25% | 27% |
| Time to have someone else in office | 32% | 14% | 36% | 57% | 38% | 12% | 28% | 32% | 36% | 30% | 32% | 36% |
| No opinion | 41% | 46% | 39% | 35% | 38% | 50% | 43% | 46% | 34% | 43% | 43% | 37% |
| (VOL) Refused | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 2% | 2% | 0% | 0% |
| TREND: Registered voters only | April 2012 | Feb. 2012 |
| Should be re-elected | 26% | 21% |
| Time to have someone else in office | 32% | 32% |
| No opinion | 41% | 46% |
| (VOL) Refused | 1% | 1% |
| Unwtd N | 692 | 709 |
6. Do you happen to know of State Senator Joe Kyrillos, or haven’t you heard of him before? [If YES: Is your general impression of him favorable or unfavorable, or don’t you really have an opinion?]
|
REGISTERED VOTER |
PARTY ID | RACE | AGE |
INCOME | ||||||||
|
Dem | Ind | Rep | White | Black & Hisp | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | <$50K | $50 to $100K |
>$100K | ||
| Favorable | 6% | 3% | 6% | 11% | 7% | 4% | 2% | 5% | 11% | 7% | 5% | 6% |
| Unfavorable | 2% | 3% | 1% | 4% | 3% | 1% | 2% | 2% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 3% |
| Heard of but no opinion | 11% | 12% | 11% | 10% | 12% | 9% | 9% | 12% | 12% | 11% | 7% | 13% |
| Does not recognize name | 80% | 82% | 82% | 74% | 78% | 87% | 88% | 81% | 75% | 79% | 86% | 77% |
| TREND: Registered voters only | April 2012 | Feb. 2012 |
| Favorable | 6% | 4% |
| Unfavorable | 2% | 2% |
| Heard of but no opinion | 11% | 14% |
| Does not recognize name | 80% | 80% |
| Unwtd N |
692 |
709 |
7. Have recent increases in gasoline prices caused any financial hardship for you or your household? [If YES: Would you say a lot or a little hardship?]
|
TOTAL | REGISTERED VOTER | PARTY ID | RACE | AGE |
INCOME | |||||||||
|
Yes | No | Dem | Ind | Rep | White | Black & Hisp | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | <$50K | $50 to $100K |
>$100K | ||
| Yes, a LOT of hardship | 40% | 39% | 40% | 38% | 41% | 40% | 38% | 40% | 39% | 40% | 40% | 46% | 42% | 29% |
| Yes, a LITTLE hardship | 32% | 32% | 30% | 32% | 31% | 37% | 32% | 34% | 36% | 32% | 28% | 26% | 34% | 38% |
| No hardship | 28% | 28% | 27% | 31% | 27% | 23% | 30% | 24% | 26% | 27% | 31% | 28% | 22% | 33% |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 0% | 0% | 2% | 0% | 1% | 0% | 0% | 2% | 0% | 1% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 0% |
| TREND: | April 2012 | May 2011 | July 2008 | April 2008 |
| A LOT of hardship | 40% | 42% | 38% | 40% |
| A LITTLE hardship | 32% | 29% | 29% | 27% |
| No hardship | 28% | 28% | 32% | 32% |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 0% | 0% | 1% | 1% |
| Unwtd N |
804 | 807 | 1004 |
803 |
[The following questions were asked only of people who have a car: moe=+/-3.7%]
8. Has the price of gasoline caused you to do any of the following recently? [ITEMS WERE ROTATED]
Cut down weekend or vacation travel by car
|
TOTAL | REGISTERED VOTER | PARTY ID | RACE | AGE |
INCOME | |||||||||
|
Yes | No | Dem | Ind | Rep | White | Black & Hisp | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | <$50K | $50 to $100K |
>$100K | ||
| Yes | 56% | 54% | 64% | 54% | 60% | 52% | 56% | 58% | 58% | 60% | 51% | 72% | 59% | 40% |
| No | 44% | 46% | 36% | 46% | 40% | 48% | 44% | 42% | 42% | 40% | 49% | 28% | 41% | 60% |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| TREND: | April 2012 | May 2011 | July 2008 |
| Yes | 56% | 61% | 58% |
| No | 44% | 39% | 42% |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Unwtd N | 715 | 741 | 915 |
Cut back household spending on other things
|
TOTAL | REGISTERED VOTER | PARTY ID | RACE | AGE |
INCOME | |||||||||
|
Yes | No | Dem | Ind | Rep | White | Black & Hisp | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | <$50K | $50 to $100K |
>$100K | ||
| Yes | 57% | 56% | 61% | 52% | 57% | 61% | 54% | 65% | 67% | 59% | 46% | 73% | 57% | 44% |
| No | 43% | 44% | 39% | 48% | 43% | 39% | 46% | 34% | 33% | 41% | 54% | 26% | 43% | 56% |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 0% |
| TREND: | April 2012 | May 2011 | July 2008 |
| Yes | 57% | 61% | 56% |
| No | 43% | 39% | 44% |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Unwtd N | 715 | 741 | 915 |
Carpool with others to work or school
|
TOTAL | REGISTERED VOTER | PARTY ID | RACE | AGE | INCOME | |||||||||
|
Yes | No | Dem | Ind | Rep | White | Black & Hisp | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | <$50K | $50 to $100K |
>$100K | ||
| Yes | 17% | 15% | 28% | 21% | 16% | 14% | 14% | 23% | 28% | 15% | 9% | 17% | 20% | 15% |
| No | 83% | 85% | 72% | 79% | 84% | 86% | 86% | 76% | 71% | 84% | 91% | 83% | 80% | 84% |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 0% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 0% |
| TREND: | April 2012 | May 2011 | July 2008 |
| Yes | 17% | 18% | 20% |
| No | 83% | 82% | 79% |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 0% | 0% | 1% |
| Unwtd N |
715 | 741 |
915 |
The Monmouth University/NJ Press Media Poll was conducted by the Monmouth University Polling Institute on April 11 to 15, 2012 with a statewide random sample of 804 New Jersey adults, including 644 contacted on a landline telephone and 160 on a cell phone. Live interviewing services were provided by Braun Research, Inc. and the telephone sample was obtained from Survey Sampling International. Monmouth is responsible for all aspects of the survey questionnaire design, data weighting and analysis. For results based on the total sample, one can say with 95% confidence that the error attributable to sampling has a maximum margin of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. Sampling error increases as the sample size decreases, so statements based on various population subgroups, such as separate figures reported by gender or party identification, are subject to more error than are statements based on the total sample. In addition to sampling error, one should bear in mind that question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of opinion polls.
|
POLL DEMOGRAPHICS (weighted) | |||
| 36% Dem | 49% Male | 29% 18-34 |
64% White |
| 22% Rep | 51% Female | 39% 35-54 |
12% Black |
| 42% Ind | 32% 55+ |
15% Hispanic | |
|
9% Asian/Other | |||
|
Registered Voter Sample (weighted) | |||
| 37% Dem | 47% Male | 24% 18-34 |
70% White |
| 23% Rep | 53% Female | 39% 35-54 |
12% Black |
| 40% Ind | 37% 55+ |
10% Hispanic | |
|
8% Asian/Other | |||
It is the Monmouth University Polling Institute’s policy to conduct surveys of all adult New Jersey residents, including voters and non-voters, on issues that affect the state. Specific voter surveys are conducted when appropriate during election cycles.
Click on pdf file link below for full methodology and results by key demographic groups.
