The latest Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey Poll finds Democratic incumbent Frank Lautenberg widening his lead over Republican challenger Dick Zimmer. He currently leads among registered voters by 51% to 32%, and among likely voters by 52% to 36%. In September, the Democrat held a 46% to 36% edge among likely voters.
Each candidate maintains widespread support among his partisan base – 84% of Democrats back Lautenberg and 77% of Republicans support Zimmer. Independent voters give Lautenberg a 42% to 33% edge.
Currently, Lautenberg’s job performance rating stands at 48% approve to 28% disapprove, which is up from 45% to 33% in July. His personal favorability ratings have also improved – 45% of voters now have a favorable opinion of Lautenberg compared to 24% who feel unfavorably toward the incumbent. Another 30% have no opinion.
Dick Zimmer’s personal rating is 28% favorable to 16% unfavorable, which is basically unchanged since September. However, this also means that 56% of voters still don’t know enough about the GOP nominee to give him a rating.
Few Garden State voters – just 12% – have been paying close attention to the senate election, compared with a whopping 66% who have been closely following the presidential campaign. That’s not surprising, since the candidates have yet to make a joint appearance. Their first of the campaign will be held today at 2:00 pm, when they will field questions from the Gannett New Jersey newspaper group’s editors. The event will be shown live on the newspapers’ websites.
“With just two weeks to go, the incumbent’s stealth campaign appears to be succeeding. Of course, it certainly helps that his challenger has yet to introduce himself to most of the state’s voters,” said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute. “Given the lack of visible campaign activity, Lautenberg seems to be coasting along on Obama’s coattails.”
The poll also found that Lautenberg continues to have a slight edge over Zimmer on being better able to help the state. The incumbent leads the challenger 43% to 32% for understanding the problems of average New Jerseyans and 49% to 30% for his ability to ensure that New Jersey gets its fair share of federal funding. These results are basically unchanged from prior polls.
Lautenberg’s age continues to be a non-issue for voters. Just 29% of registered voters feel he is too old to be an effective senator, similar to the September poll results. Only slightly more (36%) believe he is too old to serve out another six year term. It should be noted that the September poll also found that most New Jersey voters underestimate the 84 year old incumbent’s age by nine years on average.
The Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey Poll was conducted by telephone with 900 New Jersey registered voters October 15-18, 2008. This sample has a margin of error of +/- 3.3 percent. This report also includes analysis on a smaller group of 723 “likely voters” with a ± 3.7 percent margin of error. 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. There will be an election for U.S. Senator from New Jersey in November. How much interest do you have in that election – a lot, some, a little, or none at all?
|
Registered | Likely Voters | PARTY ID | GENDER |
AGE | ||||||
|
Dem | Ind | Rep | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 |
55+ | |||
| A lot | 46% | 53% | 46% | 41% | 54% | 47% | 44% | 33% | 48% | 55% |
| Some | 28% | 26% | 30% | 30% | 25% | 28% | 29% | 33% | 26% | 26% |
| A little | 16% | 13% | 18% | 19% | 10% | 16% | 16% | 18% | 17% | 13% |
| None at all | 9% | 7% | 6% | 10% | 11% | 8% | 10% | 16% | 8% | 6% |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 1% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 0% |
| Unwtd N |
900 | 723 | 343 | 331 | 204 | 432 | 468 | 158 | 395 |
331 |
| TREND: |
October | September 2008 | July 2008 |
April |
| A lot | 46% | 45% | 47% | 31% |
| Some | 28% | 31% | 30% | 31% |
| A little | 16% | 16% | 13% | 26% |
| None at all | 9% | 7% | 10% | 11% |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| Unwtd N |
900 | 689 | 874 |
720 |
2. If the election for Senator was held today, would you vote for Dick Zimmer the Republican, Frank Lautenberg the Democrat, or some other candidate? [IF UNDECIDED: At this moment do you lean more towards Zimmer or more towards Lautenberg?] [NAMES WERE ROTATED]
| (with leaners) |
Registered | Likely Voters | PARTY ID | GENDER |
AGE | |||||
|
Dem | Ind | Rep | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 |
55+ | |||
| Zimmer | 32% | 36% | 5% | 33% | 77% | 36% | 28% | 17% | 35% | 39% |
| Lautenberg | 51% | 52% | 84% | 42% | 15% | 51% | 52% | 62% | 47% | 50% |
| Other candidate | 2% | 2% | 1% | 5% | 1% | 1% | 4% | 1% | 3% | 3% |
| (VOL) Will note vote | 4% | 3% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 5% | 2% | 6% | 3% | 1% |
| (VOL) Undecided | 11% | 8% | 8% | 15% | 4% | 7% | 14% | 13% | 11% | 8% |
| Unwtd N |
900 | 723 | 343 | 331 | 204 | 432 | 468 | 158 | 395 |
331 |
| TREND: |
October 2008 | September 2008 |
July 2008 | |||
|
Registered | Likely Voters | Registered Voters | Likely Voters | Registered Voters |
Likely | |
| Zimmer | 32% | 36% | 33% | 36% | 34% | 37% |
| Lautenberg | 51% | 52% | 46% | 46% | 44% | 45% |
| Other candidate | 2% | 2% | 5% | 5% | 7% | 6% |
| (VOL) Will note vote | 4% | 3% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| (VOL) Undecided | 11% | 8% | 16% | 14% | 13% | 11% |
| Unwtd N |
900 | 723 | 689 | 589 | 874 |
698 |
Composite Table: Strength of Vote Choice
2/3/4. If the election for Senator was held today, would you vote for [ROTATE] Dick Zimmer the Republican, Frank Lautenberg the Democrat, or some other candidate?
At this moment do you lean more towards Zimmer or more towards Lautenberg?
Are you very sure about voting for [Name]; or might you change your mind before Election Day?
|
October 2008 | September 2008 |
July 2008 | ||||
|
Registered | Likely Voters | Registered Voters | Likely Voters | Registered Voters |
Likely | |
| Sure Zimmer | 22% | 26% | 22% | 25% | 21% | 24% |
| Weak Zimmer | 5% | 5% | 6% | 6% | 7% | 7% |
| Lean Zimmer | 5% | 6% | 5% | 5% | 6% | 6% |
| Undecided-Other | 14% | 10% | 21% | 18% | 21% | 17% |
| Lean Lautenberg | 6% | 5% | 5% | 4% | 5% | 4% |
| Weak Lautenberg | 10% | 8% | 10% | 9% | 11% | 11% |
| Sure Lautenberg | 38% | 41% | 31% | 33% | 29% | 31% |
| Unwtd N |
879 | 709 | 683 | 585 | 866 |
692 |
[QUESTIONS 5 AND 6 WERE ROTATED]
5. Please tell me if your general impression of Frank Lautenberg is favorable or unfavorable, or if you don’t really have an opinion.
|
Registered | Likely Voters | PARTY ID | GENDER |
AGE | ||||||
|
Dem | Ind | Rep | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 |
55+ | |||
| Favorable | 45% | 48% | 68% | 39% | 21% | 44% | 46% | 39% | 48% | 47% |
| Unfavorable | 24% | 26% | 6% | 25% | 55% | 28% | 21% | 16% | 23% | 32% |
| No opinion | 30% | 26% | 26% | 36% | 24% | 28% | 33% | 45% | 30% | 21% |
| Unwtd N |
900 | 723 | 343 | 331 | 204 | 432 | 468 | 158 | 395 |
331 |
| TREND: |
October | September 2008 | July 2008 |
April |
| Favorable | 45% | 42% | 34% | 43% |
| Unfavorable | 24% | 28% | 27% | 30% |
| No opinion | 30% | 30% | 39% | 27% |
| Unwtd N |
900 | 689 | 874 |
720 |
6. Please tell me if your general impression of Dick Zimmer is favorable or unfavorable, or if you don’t really have an opinion.
|
Registered | Likely Voters | PARTY ID | GENDER |
AGE | ||||||
|
Dem | Ind | Rep | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 |
55+ | |||
| Favorable | 28% | 31% | 12% | 27% | 58% | 32% | 24% | 21% | 29% | 31% |
| Unfavorable | 16% | 16% | 24% | 13% | 8% | 17% | 15% | 15% | 17% | 17% |
| No opinion | 56% | 53% | 63% | 60% | 35% | 52% | 61% | 65% | 54% | 52% |
| Unwtd N |
900 | 723 | 343 | 331 | 204 | 432 | 468 | 158 | 395 |
331 |
| TREND: |
October | September 2008 | July 2008 |
April |
| Favorable | 28% | 27% | 18% | 9% |
| Unfavorable | 16% | 18% | 11% | 10% |
| No opinion | 56% | 55% | 71% | 80% |
| Unwtd N |
900 | 689 | 874 |
720 |
7. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Frank Lautenberg is doing as United States Senator?
|
Registered | Likely Voters | PARTY ID | GENDER |
AGE | ||||||
|
Dem | Ind | Rep | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 |
55+ | |||
| Approve | 48% | 49% | 66% | 44% | 24% | 46% | 50% | 47% | 46% | 51% |
| Disapprove | 28% | 32% | 10% | 31% | 57% | 32% | 25% | 18% | 31% | 34% |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 24% | 19% | 23% | 24% | 19% | 22% | 25% | 35% | 23% | 16% |
| Unwtd N |
900 | 723 | 343 | 331 | 204 | 432 | 468 | 158 | 395 |
331 |
| TREND: Registered voters only |
October | July 2008 | April 2008 |
January |
| Approve | 48% | 45% | 48% | 43% |
| Disapprove | 28% | 33% | 31% | 28% |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 24% | 22% | 21% | 30% |
| Unwtd N |
900 | 874 | 720 |
698 |
[QUESTIONS 8 & 9 WERE ROTATED]
8. Which candidate – Lautenberg, Zimmer, both, or neither one – understands the problems of average New Jerseyans?
|
Registered | Likely Voters | PARTY ID | GENDER |
AGE | ||||||
|
Dem | Ind | Rep | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 |
55+ | |||
| Lautenberg | 27% | 29% | 50% | 18% | 4% | 25% | 28% | 24% | 25% | 31% |
| Zimmer | 16% | 17% | 2% | 16% | 40% | 19% | 13% | 13% | 16% | 19% |
| Both | 16% | 16% | 15% | 18% | 14% | 13% | 18% | 18% | 15% | 15% |
| Neither | 24% | 23% | 17% | 33% | 22% | 26% | 23% | 20% | 29% | 22% |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 17% | 15% | 16% | 15% | 20% | 16% | 17% | 25% | 16% | 12% |
| Unwtd N |
900 | 723 | 343 | 331 | 204 | 432 | 468 | 158 | 395 |
331 |
| TREND: |
October | September 2008 |
July |
| Lautenberg | 27% | 29% | 24% |
| Zimmer | 16% | 20% | 12% |
| Both | 16% | 9% | 15% |
| Neither | 24% | 21% | 29% |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 17% | 20% | 21% |
| Unwtd N |
900 | 689 |
874 |
9. Which candidate – Lautenberg, Zimmer, both, or neither one – will make sure New Jersey gets its fair share of federal funding?
|
Registered | Likely Voters | PARTY ID | GENDER |
AGE | ||||||
|
Dem | Ind | Rep | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 |
55+ | |||
| Lautenberg | 33% | 36% | 58% | 21% | 13% | 32% | 34% | 30% | 32% | 38% |
| Zimmer | 14% | 14% | 4% | 12% | 33% | 14% | 13% | 13% | 12% | 17% |
| Both | 16% | 16% | 12% | 21% | 17% | 17% | 16% | 18% | 16% | 15% |
| Neither | 18% | 16% | 12% | 26% | 12% | 21% | 15% | 13% | 21% | 17% |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 19% | 18% | 15% | 19% | 24% | 15% | 22% | 26% | 19% | 14% |
| Unwtd N |
900 | 723 | 343 | 331 | 204 | 432 | 468 | 158 | 395 |
331 |
| TREND: |
October | September 2008 |
July |
| Lautenberg | 33% | 35% | 29% |
| Zimmer | 14% | 15% | 12% |
| Both | 16% | 11% | 11% |
| Neither | 18% | 18% | 24% |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 19% | 20% | 24% |
| Unwtd N |
900 | 689 |
874 |
[Question 10 was asked of a random half-sample: moe= ± 4.6%]
10. Do you agree or disagree that Frank Lautenberg is too old to be an effective senator?
|
Registered | Likely Voters | PARTY ID | GENDER |
AGE | ||||||
|
Dem | Ind | Rep | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 |
55+ | |||
| Agree | 29% | 33% | 21% | 27% | 42% | 34% | 25% | 22% | 30% | 34% |
| Disagree | 61% | 59% | 68% | 63% | 51% | 59% | 63% | 60% | 64% | 57% |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 10% | 8% | 11% | 10% | 7% | 7% | 12% | 18% | 6% | 8% |
| Unwtd N |
451 | 359 | 169 | 161 | 111 | 226 | 225 | 79 | 204 |
160 |
| TREND: |
October | September 2008 | July 2008 | April 2008 |
January |
| Agree | 29% | 31% | 31% | 41% | 34% |
| Disagree | 61% | 57% | 54% | 46% | 51% |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 10% | 12% | 15% | 13% | 15% |
| Unwtd N |
451 | 689 | 435 | 639 |
698 |
[Question 11 was asked of a random half-sample: moe= ± 4.6%]
11. Do you agree or disagree that Frank Lautenberg is too old to effectively serve another six year term as senator?
|
Registered | Likely Voters | PARTY ID | GENDER |
AGE | ||||||
|
Dem | Ind | Rep | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 |
55+ | |||
| Agree | 36% | 35% | 27% | 38% | 51% | 38% | 34% | 28% | 39% | 36% |
| Disagree | 52% | 56% | 59% | 52% | 39% | 54% | 50% | 53% | 48% | 57% |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 13% | 9% | 14% | 10% | 10% | 8% | 16% | 19% | 13% | 7% |
| Unwtd N |
449 | 364 | 174 | 170 | 93 | 206 | 243 | 79 | 191 |
171 |
12. How closely have you been following the campaign for U.S. Senate so far – very closely, somewhat closely, or not very closely?
|
Registered | Likely Voters | PARTY ID | GENDER |
AGE | ||||||
|
Dem | Ind | Rep | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 |
55+ | |||
| Very closely | 12% | 14% | 13% | 9% | 14% | 11% | 13% | 6% | 13% | 15% |
| Somewhat closely | 38% | 40% | 38% | 36% | 41% | 39% | 37% | 37% | 33% | 44% |
| Not very closely | 49% | 46% | 48% | 54% | 45% | 50% | 49% | 56% | 53% | 41% |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 1% | 1% | 0% | 2% | 0% | 0% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 0% |
| Unwtd N |
900 | 723 | 343 | 331 | 204 | 432 | 468 | 158 | 395 |
331 |
| TREND: |
October | September 2008 | July 2008 |
April |
| Very closely | 12% | 6% | 11% | 6% |
| Somewhat closely | 38% | 35% | 38% | 25% |
| Not very closely | 49% | 59% | 50% | 68% |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| Unwtd N |
900 | 689 | 874 |
720 |
The Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey Poll was conducted and analyzed by the Monmouth University Polling Institute research staff. The telephone interviews were collected by Braun Research on October 15-18, 2008 with a statewide random sample of 900 registered voters. For results based on this voter sample, one can say with 95% confidence that the error attributable to sampling has a maximum margin of plus or minus 3.3 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 | |||
|
Registered Voter Sample (weighted) | |||
| 40% Dem | 47% Male | 26% 18-34 |
68% White |
| 37% Ind | 53% Female | 43% 35-54 |
13% Black |
| 23% Rep | 31% 55+ |
11% Hispanic | |
|
8% Asian/Other | |||
|
Likely Voter Sample (weighted) | |||
| 42% Dem | 48% Male | 22% 18-34 |
70% White |
| 32% Ind | 52% Female | 46% 35-54 |
13% Black |
| 26% Rep | 32% 55+ |
11% Hispanic | |
|
6% Asian/Other | |||
Click on pdf file link below for full methodology and results by key demographic groups.
