Poll finds dissatisfaction with Corzine
Democratic Gov. Corzine has charted the worst approval rating for a governor in recent state history, while the Republican gubernatorial primary remains a blowout for Christopher J. Christie, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released yesterday.
Democratic Gov. Corzine has charted the worst approval rating for a governor in recent state history, while the Republican gubernatorial primary remains a blowout for Christopher J. Christie, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released yesterday.
Voters say "things have gotten worse since Corzine was elected. Obviously the economy is hurting," said Clay Richards, assistant director of the polling institute.
Of the 2,222 voters polled between April 14 and Monday, 54 percent said they disapproved of the job Corzine was doing, and 37 percent said they approved. The disapproval rating was the highest for a New Jersey governor, including the disgraced Jim McGreevey, in the poll's 13-year history.
The worst previous rating - 52 percent - belonged to Corzine in June and McGreevey shortly before he resigned in 2004.
Reacting to the poll, state Democratic Party chairman Joseph Cryan, a Union County assemblyman, said, "The governor is focused on jobs and the economy, and we'll worry about the Republican nominee whomever that may be after their primary."
At the same time, the party sent out a statement criticizing Christie's budget plans, a sign Democrats are already worrying about him.
Although Corzine is unpopular, this gubernatorial race - one of only two in the country this year - is far from over.
"Corzine has several months and several million dollars to go. This story has not been written," Richards said.
In recent weeks, Democrats have stepped up attacks on Christie, raising questions about contracts he gave to former prosecutors to monitor criminal corporations when he was New Jersey's U.S. attorney.
Still, Christie led the governor in the new poll, 45 percent to 38 percent. The margin of error was plus or minus 2 percentage points.
A subset of voters in the poll, 486 Republicans likely to vote in the June 2 primary, said they preferred Christie over former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan, 46 percent to 37 percent. The margin of error for that group was plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.
More than a week ago, Christie wrapped up the support of the 17 county machines that give endorsements. That gets him preferential placement on the ballot and foot soldiers on election day.
And he outpaces Lonegan in fund-raising. So far, the state Election Law Enforcement Commission, which awards matching money to qualifying candidates, has disbursed $2.3 million to Christie and $1.1 million to Lonegan.
Christie campaign manager Bill Stepien said, "I'd rather be Chris than any other candidate right now."
Christie continues to suffer from low recognition among voters, which makes him vulnerable to attacks. But he is gaining. In February, 61 percent of the poll's respondents said they had heard too little about him to form an opinion; in this poll, 56 percent said they had not heard of him.
Lonegan's name recognition is even lower, with 72 percent saying they did not know much about him. But his campaign reports a surge in its grassroots network.
"We have phone banks to identify volunteers. We're looking for people to go door to door. That has been incredibly effective," Lonegan spokesman Rick Shaftan said. Those volunteers are recruiting more volunteers. Lonegan has been running radio ads since late January.
And on May 5, Lonegan plans to have a marquee event featuring "Joe the Plumber" - Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher of Ohio, who was Republican John McCain's mascot during the 2008 presidential race.
