| Yesterday we looked at a new Rasmussen Poll of New Jersey that showed Corzine trailing Christie 40-42 with 55% disapproval. Now we have a new Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey Poll (PDF) that paints a similar -- if marginally better -- picture, but includes other Republicans in possible match-ups "if the election for governor was held today:"
Corzine 38 Christie 36
Corzine 36 "another Republican" 32
Corzine 45 Lonegan 29
Corzine 41 Merkt 27
Corzine 44 Levine 27
This is a poll of only 413 registered voters, so the sampling error of 4.8 points is large. Perhaps that sampling error accounts for the one big discrepency with Rasmussen: Monmouth/Gannett finds Corzine's disapproval at only 40%, with 43% approving. It's a shame this sample is so small, because Monmouth does list cross-tabs by party affiliation and region. I do think Christie's 69% favorable rating among Republicans, with Lonegan at only 18%, only reinforces the idea that the primary will not be a challenge for him.
Another marginally better result to cling to is that 49% of registered voters in this sample have a "favorable" opinion of Corzine, and only 38% unfavorable. I say "cling to" because this is in a sample that is 42% Democrats and 25% Republican.
Finally, the poll tests various attack lines, but you'll have to read the PDF to see the details. |
