February 20, 2008 - Corzine Approval Crashes Into NJ Toll Hike Plan, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters Oppose 3 - 1 Raising Tolls To Balance Budget Word format New Jersey voters oppose 73 - 22 percent a proposal to raise Turnpike and Parkway tolls and use the money to reduce state debt and pay for transportation projects, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Turning on the author of the toll hike plan, New Jersey voters disapprove 52 - 37 percent of the job Gov. Jon Corzine is doing, down from a 46 - 43 percent approval rating in a December 11, 2007 poll by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University and among Gov. Corzine's lowest scores ever. Even Democrats oppose the toll hike plan 63 - 31 percent. Opposition to the plan ranges from 65 - 29 percent in the South Jersey Philadelphia suburbs, where fewer commuters use toll roads on a daily basis, to 86 - 12 percent along the shore, where commuters use the Garden State Parkway and Atlantic City Expressway. Voters also oppose 68 - 27 percent a modified plan with smaller toll hikes mixed with an increase in the gasoline tax. If New Jersey voters must choose a way to raise state revenues, choices are: 31 percent say raise sales taxes; 23 percent say raise tolls; 13 percent say raise gas taxes; 13 percent say raise income taxes. "Gov. Corzine's toll hike proposal has smashed into a brick wall of massive voter opposition, causing his approval rating to drop from a three-point positive to a 15-point negative," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Even those who don't drive on the toll roads don't want toll hikes. Voter anger is so strong that less than a third think the Governor deserves re-election. Corzine's problems are just made worse by the fact that two thirds of the voters are dissatisfied with the way things are going in New Jersey today," Richards added. New Jersey voters say 51 - 32 percent that Corzine does not deserve to be reelected. Voters split 35 - 33 percent on whether they would vote for Corzine or an unnamed Republican opponent. A total of 66 percent of voters say they are "somewhat dissatisfied" or "very dissatisfied" with the way things are going in New Jersey today, while 33 percent are "very satisfied" or "somewhat satisfied." U.S. Senate Race Voters approve 39 - 31 percent of the job Sen. Frank Lautenberg is doing, but say 40 - 32 percent that he does not deserve to be reelected this year. If reelected, Sen. Lautenberg would be "too old to effectively serve another six-year term in the U.S. Senate," voters say 58 - 36 percent. "Sen. Lautenberg, who faces re-election this year, leads an unnamed Republican challenger 37 - 30 percent. But the number of voters who think he is too old to run again has risen four points to 58 percent, and the number of voters who think he deserves re-election has dropped four points to 32 percent. Lautenberg could be in trouble if the Republicans field a serious challenger," Richards said. Moving the New Jersey presidential primary from June to February, at an estimated cost of $10 million, was not worth it, voters say 52 - 40 percent. From February 13 - 18, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,803 New Jersey voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.3 percentage points. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio and nationally as a public service and for research. For more data -- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x271.xml, or call (203) 582-5201. 7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jon Corzine is handling his job as Governor? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 37% 17% 53% 34% 35% 38% 35% 50% Disapprove 52 73 35 53 56 48 54 36 DK/NA 12 9 12 13 9 14 10 15 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 44% 39% 34% 44% 21% Disapprove 39 48 54 47 72 DK/NA 17 13 12 9 7 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jon Corzine is handling his job as Governor? Highest Lowest Approve Approve Feb 20 Dec 11 Sep 25 Jul 9 Apr 18 Apr 18 Apr 26 2008 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2006 Approve 37 46 49 48 51 51 35 Disapprove 52 43 40 39 36 36 42 DK/NA 12 11 11 13 13 13 23 8. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 26% 17% 37% 22% 22% 30% 25% 33% Disapprove 54 67 42 56 63 46 56 45 DK/NA 20 16 21 22 15 24 19 22 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 31% 26% 26% 31% 18% Disapprove 47 51 54 49 70 DK/NA 22 23 20 20 12 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? Highest Lowest Approve Approve Feb 20 Dec 11 Sep 25 Jul 9 Apr 18 Jan 26 Jul 14 2008 2007 2007 2007 2007 2005 2006 Approve 26 28 30 30 32 44 20 Disapprove 54 53 54 52 49 31 71 DK/NA 20 19 16 18 19 25 10 9. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Frank Lautenberg is handling his job as United States Senator? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 39% 22% 51% 41% 37% 41% 40% 40% Disapprove 31 53 18 31 39 25 33 25 DK/NA 29 25 31 28 24 34 27 35 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 42% 39% 37% 43% 38% Disapprove 23 31 34 27 40 DK/NA 35 30 29 30 22 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Frank Lautenberg is handling his job as United States Senator? * - also 55% on 9/23/1999 & 7/22/1999 Highest Lowest Approve Approve Feb 20 Dec 11 Sep 25 Jul 9 Apr 18 Jul 27 Feb 20 2008 2007 2007 2007 2007 2000 * 2008 Approve 39 42 42 41 47 55 39 Disapprove 31 33 34 32 29 22 31 DK/NA 29 25 24 28 24 23 29 10. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Robert Menendez is handling his job as United States Senator? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 30% 14% 43% 31% 31% 29% 28% 32% Disapprove 31 45 22 29 35 28 32 26 DK/NA 39 41 35 39 34 43 40 42 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 42% 27% 24% 28% 32% Disapprove 25 32 34 26 38 DK/NA 33 41 42 46 31 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Robert Menendez is handling his job as United States Senator? * 39% on 3/20/06 Highest Lowest Approve Approve Feb 20 Dec 11 Sep 25 Jul 9 Apr 18 Dec 7 Feb 20 2008 2007 2007 2007 2007 2006 * 2008 Approve 30 34 32 31 34 39 30 Disapprove 31 34 38 39 36 37 31 DK/NA 39 32 30 31 30 24 39 12. Looking ahead to the 2009 election for Governor, do you feel that Jon Corzine deserves to be reelected, or do you feel that he does not deserve to be reelected? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 32% 13% 48% 31% 32% 32% 30% 45% No 51 73 34 52 54 49 53 39 DK/NA 17 14 17 18 15 20 17 16 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes 42% 32% 33% 36% 18% No 38 48 54 47 68 DK/NA 20 20 13 17 14 TREND: Looking ahead to the 2009 election for Governor, do you feel that Jon Corzine deserves to be reelected, or do you feel that he does not deserve to be reelected? Feb 20 Dec 11 2008 2007 Yes 32 44 No 51 43 DK/NA 17 13 13. If the 2009 election for Governor were being held today, do you think you would vote for Jon Corzine the Democratic candidate or the Republican candidate? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Corzine 35% 7% 63% 30% 35% 35% 32% 54% Republican 33 67 11 33 36 31 38 10 DEPENDS ON CANDIDATE (VOL) 20 19 15 25 20 20 21 17 DK/NA 12 6 12 12 9 14 10 18 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Corzine 47% 36% 33% 39% 21% Republican 20 31 41 29 44 DEPENDS ON CANDIDATE (VOL) 16 19 18 20 24 DK/NA 16 13 7 11 10 TREND: If the 2009 election for Governor were being held today, do you think you would vote for Jon Corzine the Democratic candidate or the Republican candidate? Feb 20 Dec 11 2008 2007 Corzine 35 41% Republican 33 31 DEPENDS ON CANDIDATE 20 16 DK/NA 12 12 14. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in New Jersey today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Very satisfied 4% 2% 6% 3% 4% 3% 3% 6% Smwht satisfied 29 18 40 26 25 32 29 26 Smwht dissatisfied 33 38 32 33 33 33 33 40 Very dissatisfied 33 42 21 37 36 30 35 28 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 - Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Very satisfied 8% 3% 2% 2% 4% Smwht satisfied 34 31 30 32 18 Smwht dissatisfied 32 36 33 30 32 Very dissatisfied 23 30 34 34 44 DK/NA 3 1 1 1 2 TREND: In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in New Jersey today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? Feb 20 Dec 11 Feb 28 Dec 6 Jun 16 Apr 26 Mar 16 2008 2007 2007 2006 2006 2006 2006 Very satisfied 4 3 3 2 3 3 3 Smwht satisfied 29 35 37 34 27 33 44 Smwht dissatisfied 33 32 34 38 37 31 31 Very dissatisfied 33 30 25 25 32 33 20 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 15. Since Jon Corzine became Governor in January 2006, do you feel that things in New Jersey have gotten better, gotten worse, or stayed about the same? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Better 10% 3% 17% 9% 11% 10% 10% 12% Worse 35 50 23 35 37 33 37 21 The same 53 45 58 55 51 54 51 65 DK/NA 2 2 2 1 1 3 2 2 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Better 14% 11% 11% 10% 5% Worse 25 32 36 31 49 The same 57 53 53 56 45 DK/NA 3 4 1 3 0 TREND: Since Jon Corzine became Governor in January 2006, do you feel that things in New Jersey have gotten better, gotten worse, or stayed about the same? Feb 20 Dec 11 Feb 28 2008 2007 2007 Better 10 14 20% Worse 35 25 15 The same 53 59 62 DK/NA 2 2 3 16. Looking ahead to the 2008 election for United States Senator, do you feel that Frank Lautenberg deserves to be reelected, or do you feel that he does not deserve to be reelected? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 32% 17% 43% 32% 32% 32% 33% 29% No 40 60 25 41 47 33 41 36 DK/NA 28 23 32 27 21 35 26 35 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes 39% 27% 31% 38% 30% No 31 41 43 33 47 DK/NA 30 32 26 28 23 TREND: Looking ahead to the 2008 election for United States Senator, do you feel that Frank Lautenberg deserves to be reelected, or do you feel that he does not deserve to be reelected? Feb 20 Sep 25 Jul 9 2008 2007 2007 Deserves Reelection 32 36 31 Does Not 40 46 42 DK/NA 28 18 27 17. If the 2008 election for United States Senator were being held today, do you think you would vote for Frank Lautenberg the Democratic candidate or the Republican candidate? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Lautenberg 37% 9% 66% 29% 33% 40% 34% 59% Republican 30 66 8 29 35 27 35 12 DEPENDS ON CANDIDATE (VOL) 15 15 10 21 17 14 15 11 DK/NA 17 10 16 20 15 19 16 17 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Lautenberg 47% 37% 30% 40% 31% Republican 25 32 36 25 33 DEPENDS ON CANDIDATE (VOL) 13 13 16 15 20 DK/NA 15 18 17 19 16 TREND: If the 2008 election for United States Senator were being held today, do you think you would vote for Frank Lautenberg the Democratic candidate or the Republican candidate? Feb 20 Sep 25 Jul 9 2008 2007 2007 Lautenberg 37 39 40 Republican 30 36 33 DEPENDS ON CAND(VOL) 15 13 14 DK/NA 17 12 13 18. At age 84, do you think Frank Lautenberg is too old to effectively serve another 6 year term as United States Senator, or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 58% 67% 53% 58% 58% 58% 58% 64% No 36 29 42 35 37 35 37 30 DK/NA 6 4 5 7 5 7 6 6 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes 53% 62% 54% 58% 58% No 39 31 41 38 37 DK/NA 9 7 5 4 5 TREND: At age 84, do you think Frank Lautenberg is too old to effectively serve another 6 year term as United States Senator, or not? * age 83 Feb 20 Sep 25 Jul 9 2008 2007* 2007* Yes 58 54 54 No 36 40 40 DK/NA 6 6 6 19. Governor Corzine has proposed raising tolls about 50 percent every four years over the next 14 years in order to reduce the state debt and pay for transportation projects. Do you approve or disapprove of this proposal? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 22% 12% 31% 22% 25% 19% 22% 21% Disapprove 73 86 63 75 72 74 74 68 DK/NA 5 2 7 4 3 7 4 12 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 25% 20% 25% 29% 12% Disapprove 69 73 71 65 86 DK/NA 6 7 4 6 2 20. If the governor's proposal was modified to include a smaller hike in tolls and an increase in the gasoline tax would you approve or disapprove of this proposal? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 27% 19% 34% 28% 29% 25% 29% 21% Disapprove 68 79 61 66 68 69 67 74 DK/NA 5 2 4 6 3 6 5 5 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 36% 28% 30% 24% 20% Disapprove 60 67 65 71 77 DK/NA 4 5 4 5 3 21. If it is necessary to raise new revenues, which of the following would be your first choice to raise - Tolls, Gas taxes, Income taxes, or Sales taxes? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Tolls 23% 18% 26% 24% 17% 27% 22% 25% Gas taxes 13 11 13 15 15 11 14 5 Income taxes 13 10 16 13 14 12 11 20 Sales taxes 31 34 31 30 32 31 33 38 DK/NA 20 28 14 18 22 19 21 12 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Tolls 17% 20% 29% 36% 14% Gas taxes 17 13 10 11 13 Income taxes 16 14 9 16 10 Sales taxes 33 32 32 21 38 DK/NA 17 21 21 16 26 22. The governor's proposal includes projects to widen the New Jersey Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway and the Atlantic City Expressway. Do you support or oppose these projects? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 42% 39% 50% 37% 46% 39% 40% 47% Oppose 47 51 41 51 46 48 49 47 DK/NA 11 10 9 12 8 13 12 6 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Support 43% 42% 39% 46% 40% Oppose 43 45 52 49 48 DK/NA 13 13 9 5 13 23. When it comes to driving on toll roads in New Jersey would you say you drive on toll roads frequently, sometimes, seldom or not at all? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Frequently 33% 34% 31% 33% 39% 28% 31% 37% Sometimes 33 33 33 32 30 35 32 34 Seldom 27 27 28 29 26 29 30 24 Not at all 6 6 7 5 4 8 6 5 DK/NA 1 - 1 0 1 0 1 - Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Frequently 43% 32% 15% 24% 50% Sometimes 29 37 34 34 26 Seldom 18 25 42 35 20 Not at all 10 5 8 7 4 DK/NA 0 1 0 0 0 25. Some estimates say it cost an additional $10 million to separate New Jersey's presidential primary from the traditional June primary for state and local offices so it could be held early on Super Tuesday. Do you think it was worth it to have New Jersey vote early and have a larger impact on the presidential election choices? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 40% 27% 50% 41% 39% 41% 37% 61% No 52 66 41 53 54 50 56 31 DK/NA 8 7 9 6 7 9 7 8 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes 45% 38% 36% 38% 44% No 48 51 58 54 50 DK/NA 7 11 6 8 6
