CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS
Oct. 8, 2009 – 6:29 p.m.
Little Daylight in N.J. Governor Poll Numbers
By Emily Cadei, CQ-Roll Call
The New Jersey governor’s race looks to be entering dead heat territory, with a Thursday poll showing a neck-and-neck contest between Democratic incumbent Jon Corzine and Republican Chris Christie.
With just 26 days remaining until the election, a Survey USA poll conducted Oct. 5-7 shows Christie has a statistically insignificant lead over Corzine, 43 percent to 40 percent, among a mix of registered and likely voters. The margin of error was plus or minus 4 percent.
The survey of 1,000 adults echoes findings from a Fairleigh Dickinson poll released earlier this week that found Corzine ahead of Christie 38 percent to 37 percent. Corzine had been trailing Christie all summer.
Independent Chris Daggett comes in at 14 percent, earning the backing of 15 percent of Republicans, 12 percent of Democrats and 19 percent of independents.
According the Survey USA analysis, Daggett is drawing off support from both sides — of those who voted for Corzine in 2005, 13 percent said they will vote for Daggett, while 14 percent of voters who backed Republican Doug Forrester in the last election have swung to the independent candidate this time.
Overall, Christie maintains a comfortable lead among independents, a pivotal voting group in New Jersey, 44 percent to 32 percent for Corzine.
A majority of voters who say property taxes are the biggest issue in the election support Christie, not surprising given that the former U.S. attorney has been hammering that theme on the campaign trail. Majorities of those concerned most about jobs, the economy, or healthcare, however, back Corzine.
CQ Politics currently rates the race as Leans Republican.
To follow the 2009 and 2010 governors’ races, check out CQ Politics’ election map.
Comments
Question will be if the Daggett supporters actually vote for him and give the election to Corzine or will they change their minds on election day and switch over to Christie.
The real problem is not Corzine; it is the Republican Party in New Jersey. There was an opportunity to nominate a libertarian leaning conservative, Steve Lonegan. He would have been a real counter to the tax and regulate Corzine. Instead, the Party fought to nominate Chris Christie, another liberal NJ RINO. What result do you expect when the voters are not presented with a real choice?
...Or stay home, for that matter.
The real question is whether Christie voters want change or a chance to make a partisan statement. Corzine has a good enough record to deserve serious consideration. As a result, he could be re-elected. Christie is a political non-entity whose personality and lack of political acumen will ensure four years of unproductive turmoil in the event of his election. Daggett is the candidate who has the integrity, guts and personal attributes needed to be the candidate of change in NJ in 09. A vote for Christie is not a vote for change, it is a wasted vote for a political faction.
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