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NJ Governor: It’s Anyone’s Game

New Jersey

Christie, Corzine neck and neck as Daggett fades

Just days before selecting their next governor, New Jersey voters are clearly divided.  The only sure bet from the latest Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey Poll  is that the winner will be either a Republican or a Democrat.   As of Friday night, challenger Chris Christie held an insignificant one point lead over incumbent Jon Corzine among likely voters, 43% to 42%.  Two weeks ago, the race was tied at 39% each.   Independent Chris Daggett has faded to 8%, after reaching 14% in the previous poll.

Republican voters give 86% support to their party’s nominee, compared to 6% for Corzine and 5% for Daggett.  Democratic voters give 77% support to their party’s nominee, compared to 11% for Christie and 9% for Daggett.

“This election will be defined by turnout like few others before it.  Many Democrats are sitting on the sidelines and not considered to be likely voters at this point.  They may be unenthusiastic about their governor, but can they be prodded to the polls for other reasons?  If not, Christie may eke out the win,” said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute.

A key dynamic in this race has been the vacillations of independent voters.  The GOP nominee Christie now garners a 51% majority with this important voting bloc compared to just 29% for Democrat Corzine.  The major shift is a drop in Daggett’s support from 22% of independent voters two weeks ago to just 10% in the current poll.

“Independent voters are simply unhappy with the job Governor Corzine has done over the past four years.  After a brief flirtation with Daggett’s candidacy, many seem to have returned to Christie as their best chance for change,” said Murray.

Jon Corzine’s job performance rating stands at 35% approve to 55% disapprove among likely voters, including an anemic 21% to 69% among independents.   The governor’s personal rating stands at 39% favorable to 49% unfavorable, which has been fairly stable since July.

The Republican’s ratings, though, have rebounded from the steady slide they experienced throughout the year.  Currently, voter opinion of Chris Christie stands at 44% favorable to 36% unfavorable.  It had dipped to 40% favorable to 41% unfavorable in mid-October.

“Political operatives live by the mantra that negative ads work.  That may be true, but there is also a tipping point where too many negative ads can backfire.  Perhaps we have reached that point in this race,” said Murray.

Fully 73% of New Jersey voters say that Jon Corzine has unfairly attacked Chris Christie.  A smaller majority of 54% say Christie has done the same against the governor.  Independents are more likely to say that Corzine (78%) rather than Christie (46%) has launched unfair assaults.  Unsurprisingly, Republicans agree, with 82% saying Corzine has attacked unfairly and 37% saying the same about Christie.  On the other hand, Democratic voters are equally as likely to blame both Corzine (62%) and Christie (68%) for unfair attacks in this campaign.

The poll also found that independent candidate Chris Daggett’s personal rating is now 22% favorable to 22% unfavorable, which is less positive than the 28% to 15% rating he held two weeks ago.  A majority (56%) of likely voters still say they don’t know enough to form an opinion about him.

The shift in voter opinion of Daggett is particularly pronounced among Republicans, going from a net positive 29% to 15% in mid-October to a net negative 18% to 30% in the current poll.  “It seems that a good number of Republicans have gone from seeing Daggett as a credible candidate to an unwelcome spoiler,” said Murray.

Some observers have speculated that the conservative wing of the Republican Party may withhold support for their nominee.  However, the poll found that 90% of Republican voters who say they supported Steve Lonegan in the GOP primary are backing Chris Christie in the general election, which is statistically similar to the 95% who initially backed Christie in June and still support him today.

– Green Acres Bond –

Voters going to the polls on November 3 rd  will also be asked to approve a $400 million bond measure to fund Green Acres, water supply and floodplain protection, farmland and historic preservation projects, as well as park improvements.  However, just 16% have heard a lot about this public question and 43% have heard a little.  Another 41% of likely voters have heard nothing about the bond issue they will be asked to vote on.

Currently, just over half (51%) of likely voters indicate they will support the bond, while 28% will definitely vote against it and 21% are undecided or won’t vote on the question.

The text of the public question and interpretive statement on the ballot mentions the word debt only once.  Currently, just 35% of voters say they know that the measure would require new state borrowing.  Another 16% actually think that there will be no debt involved and 49% say they have no idea.  After being informed that the $400 million program would require additional state borrowing, support for the bond drops to 30% in the poll.

“Past polling on public bond referenda suggests that most undecided voters will fall into the ‘no’ camp on election day.  At only 51 percent support, this bond issue could be in trouble, especially if voters link the word ‘bond’ with ‘debt.’  It may be fortunate for proponents of this measure that most voters don’t,” said Murray.

Candidate Support by Party
Likely Voters Late Oct 09Mid Oct 09Early Oct 09Sept 09Aug 09July 09
Democrats            
Corzine 77% 76% 75% 77% 74% 71%
Christie 11% 8% 8% 10% 17% 15%
Daggett 9% 11% 8% 6% 2% 3%
Other 0% 0% 0% 1% 2% 0%
Undecided 3% 5% 9% 6% 5% 11%
             
Republicans            
Corzine 6% 6% 7% 7% 9% 9%
Christie 86% 81% 86% 83% 87% 83%
Daggett 5% 8% 3% 5% 2% 3%
Other 0% 1% 0% 1% 0% 0%
Undecided 3% 4% 3% 4% 2% 6%
             
Independents            
Corzine 29% 21% 28% 30% 24% 26%
Christie 51% 45% 49% 53% 56% 47%
Daggett 10% 22% 11% 4% 7% 7%
Other 3% 2% 2% 2% 4% 1%
Undecided 6% 10% 10% 11% 9% 18%

The Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey Poll  was conducted by telephone with 1,041 New Jersey likely voters from October 28 to 30, 2009.  This sample has a margin of error of ± 3.0 percent.  The poll was conducted by the Monmouth University Polling Institute and originally published by the Gannett New Jersey 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. If the election for governor was held today, would you vote for Jon Corzine the Democrat, Chris Christie the Republican, Chris Daggett the independent, or some other candidate?  [If undecided: At this moment do you lean more towards Corzine or more towards Christie?] [NAMES WERE ROTATED]

 

Likely
Voters

PARTY IDGENDERRACEAGE

REGION

 

Dem

IndRepMaleFemaleWhiteBlack &
Hispanic
18-3435-5455+NorthCentral

South

Corzine42%77%29%6%36%49%35%73%55%40%39%44%37%44%
Christie43%11%51%86%49%38%50%19%29%46%47%42%47%44%
Daggett8%9%10%5%9%7%8%5%8%8%8%9%8%6%
Other candidate1%0%3%0%2%0%1%2%1%2%1%1%3%0%
(VOL) Don’t know5%3%6%3%5%6%6%1%7%4%6%5%5%6%
Unwtd N

1041

360390269503538886100149495381475285

268

TREND:
Likely voters

Late Oct
2009

Mid Oct
2009
Early Oct
2009
Sept.
2009
Aug.
2009

July
2009

Corzine 42%39%40%39%36%37%
Christie 43%39%43%47%50%45%
Daggett 8%14%8%5%4%4%
Other candidate 1%1%1%1%2%1%
(VOL) Don’t know 5%7%8%7%8%13%
Unwtd N 

1041

1004527531484

527

2. Please tell me if your general impression of the following candidates is favorable or unfavorable, or if you don’t have an opinion. [NAMES WERE ROTATED]

Jon Corzine

 

Likely
Voters

PARTY ID

VOTE CHOICE

 

Dem

IndRepCorzineChristieDaggett

Undecided

Favorable39%71%25%9%91%2%16%25%
Unfavorable49%16%64%84%3%91%67%36%
No opinion/
Don’t recognize
12%13%10%7%7%7%17%39%
Unwtd N

1041

36039026935645889

120

TREND:
Likely voters
Late Oct
2009
Mid Oct
2009
Early Oct
2009
Sept.
2009
Aug.
2009
July
2009
Favorable 39%37%40%37%37%41%
Unfavorable 49%51%49%53%53%50%
No opinion/
Don’t recognize
 12%12%10%10%10%9%
Unwtd N 

1041

1004527531484527

Chris Christie

 

Likely
Voters

PARTY ID

VOTE CHOICE

 

Dem

IndRepCorzineChristieDaggett

Undecided

Favorable44%17%50%83%7%90%19%25%
Unfavorable36%59%32%10%70%3%66%22%
No opinion/
Don’t recognize
19%24%18%7%22%7%16%52%
Unwtd N

1041

36039026935645889

120

TREND:
Likely voters
Late Oct
2009
Mid Oct
2009
Early Oct
2009
Sept.
2009
Aug.
2009
July
2009
Favorable 44%40%41%48%49%50%
Unfavorable 36%41%39%30%33%26%
No opinion/
Don’t recognize
 19%19%19%22%18%24%
Unwtd N 

1041

1004527531484

527

Chris Daggett

 

Likely
Voters

PARTY ID

VOTE CHOICE

 

Dem

IndRepCorzineChristieDaggett

Undecided

Favorable22%23%26%18%17%16%90%17%
Unfavorable22%17%24%30%16%34%4%13%
No opinion/
Don’t recognize
56%61%51%52%67%50%6%70%
Unwtd N

1041

36039026935645889

120

TREND:
Likely voters
Late Oct
2009
Mid Oct
2009
Early Oct
2009
Sept.
2009
Aug.
2009
July
2009
Favorable 22%28%17%11%11%7%
Unfavorable 22%15%8%6%9%10%
No opinion/
Don’t recognize
 56%56%75%83%80%82%
Unwtd N 

1041

1004527531484

527

3. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Jon Corzine is doing as governor?

 

Likely
Voters

PARTY ID

VOTE CHOICE

 

Dem

IndRepCorzineChristieDaggett

Undecided

Approve35%62%21%10%78%4%9%26%
Disapprove55%25%69%87%8%94%82%47%
(VOL) Don’t know10%13%10%3%14%2%9%26%
Unwtd N

1041

36039026935645889

120

TREND:
Likely voters
Late Oct
2009
Early Oct
2009
Sept.
2009
Aug.
2009
July
2009
Approve 35%41%34%35%40%
Disapprove 55%55%58%58%53%
(VOL) Don’t know 10%5%9%7%7%
Unwtd N 

1041

527531484

527

4. Which ONE of the following issues matters most in deciding how you will vote for governor? [ITEMS WERE ROTATED]

 

Likely
Voters

PARTY ID

VOTE CHOICE

 

Dem

IndRepCorzineChristieDaggett

Undecided

Property taxes36%27%38%49%19%51%43%32%
Corruption in government14%8%20%16%8%19%16%7%
The economy and jobs27%34%20%23%40%19%15%22%
Health care15%24%10%8%25%4%17%21%
(VOL) None of these2%2%2%1%3%1%1%3%
(VOL) Can’t choose7%6%10%3%5%6%7%15%
Unwtd N

1041

36039026935645889

120

5. Which ONE of the following candidate qualities matters most in deciding how you will vote for governor? [ITEMS WERE ROTATED]

 

Likely
Voters

PARTY ID

VOTE CHOICE

 

Dem

IndRepCorzineChristieDaggett

Undecided

Is honest22%20%25%21%20%19%28%33%
Has the right experience13%20%12%3%28%3%5%8%
Can bring needed change32%26%33%40%17%46%43%29%
Shares my values28%30%23%34%32%30%21%14%
(VOL) None of these2%1%4%1%2%1%1%7%
(VOL) Can’t choose3%3%3%2%3%1%2%10%
Unwtd N

1041

36039026935645889

120

6. If Chris Christie beats Jon Corzine, do you think this will change the way that state government operates a lot, a little, or not at all?

 

Likely
Voters

PARTY ID

VOTE CHOICE

 

Dem

IndRepCorzineChristieDaggett

Undecided

A lot36%38%29%46%40%42%20%20%
A little40%31%46%46%30%52%35%37%
Not at all19%24%20%7%24%6%42%27%
(VOL) Don’t know5%6%5%1%7%1%2%16%
Unwtd N

1041

36039026935645889

120

TREND:
Likely voters
Late Oct
2009
Early Oct
2009
A lot 36%35%
A little 40%42%
Not at all 19%20%
(VOL) Don’t know 5%4%
Unwtd N 

1041

527

7. Regardless of how you will vote, which candidate has the best plan to lower property taxes – Corzine, Christie, Daggett, or none of them?

 

Likely
Voters

PARTY ID

VOTE CHOICE

 

Dem

IndRepCorzineChristieDaggett

Undecided

Corzine15%31%6%1%37%0%2%5%
Christie29%9%35%54%3%64%5%15%
Daggett8%8%10%7%4%4%54%6%
None of them37%38%41%29%43%26%30%54%
(VOL) Don’t know11%14%7%9%14%5%9%20%
Unwtd N

1041

36039026935645889

120

8. Which candidate has attacked his opponent unfairly in this election – Jon Corzine, Chris Christie, both of them, or neither of them?

 

Likely
Voters

PARTY ID

VOTE CHOICE

 

Dem

IndRepCorzineChristieDaggett

Undecided

Jon Corzine only29%11%38%48%7%55%14%20%
Chris Christie only10%17%6%3%20%2%8%3%
Both of them44%51%40%34%53%30%66%50%
Neither of them13%15%10%14%14%9%9%18%
(VOL) Don’t know5%5%6%2%6%3%3%9%
Unwtd N

1041

36039026935645889

120

9. In addition to the race for governor, there will also be a public question on the ballot regarding an open space bond. Have you heard a lot, a little, or nothing at all about this ballot measure?

 

Likely
Voters

PARTY ID

 

Dem

Ind

Rep

Lot16%13%18%18%
Little43%40%44%48%
Nothing at all41%46%38%34%

10. This measure would authorize the state to issue 400 million dollars in bonds to fund Green Acres, water supply and floodplain protection, and farmland and historic preservation projects. It will also fund park improvements and facilities.  Will you vote for or against this bond measure, or not vote at all on this question?

 

Likely
Voters

PARTY IDHEARD OF
QUESTION

REQUIRES NEW
DEBT

 

Dem

IndRepLotLittleNothingYesNo

Don’t
Know

For51%62%44%43%51%51%50%42%67%52%
Against28%16%38%38%41%30%22%47%14%20%
Won’t vote at all8%8%7%8%4%5%13%4%9%10%
(VOL) Don’t know13%14%11%11%3%14%15%6%9%18%
Unwtd N

1041

360390269182466393404150

487

11. As far as you know, does this measure require any new state debt to fund it, or not?

 

Likely
Voters

PARTY ID

HEARD OF
QUESTION

 

Dem

IndRepLotLittle

Nothing

Yes, requires new debt35%27%42%41%54%43%19%
No, does not require16%19%15%13%24%16%14%
(VOL) Don’t know49%55%43%46%22%42%67%

12. If you knew this 400 million dollar bond would require borrowing and new state debt, would you vote for or against this bond measure? [Includes those already aware of debt from question 11]

 

Likely
Voters

PARTY ID

HEARD OF
QUESTION

 

Dem

IndRepLotLittle

Nothing

For30%37%26%28%44%34%21%
Against58%50%64%63%52%54%64%
(VOL) Won’t vote either way3%2%3%3%0%3%3%
(VOL) Don’t know9%12%6%7%5%9%12%

13. How worried are you about the direction of the nation’s economy in the next year – very, somewhat, not too, or not at all worried?

 

Likely
Voters

PARTY ID

VOTE CHOICE

 

Dem

IndRepCorzineChristieDaggett

Undecided

Very worried56%46%59%69%39%70%53%59%
Somewhat worried33%40%30%25%43%25%32%30%
Not too worried8%9%9%4%11%4%11%9%
Not at all worried3%4%3%2%5%1%3%2%
(VOL) Don’t know0%1%0%0%1%0%0%0%

The Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey Poll was conducted and analyzed by the Monmouth University Polling Institute research staff.  The telephone interviews were collected on October 28-30, 2009 with a statewide random sample of 1,041 likely voters. For results based on this sample, one can say with 95% confidence that the error attributable to sampling has a maximum margin of plus or minus 3.0 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

Likely Voter Sample (weighted)

40% Dem48% Male20% 18-34

76% White

34% Ind52% Female45% 35-54

  9% Black

26% Rep 35% 55+

  10% Hispanic

   

  5% Asian/Other

Click on pdf file link below for full methodology and results by key demographic groups.