February 9, 2011 - New Jersey Voters Say Christie's First Year A Success, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Obama Approval Bouncing Back Word format New Jersey voters approve 52 - 40 percent of the job Gov. Christopher Christie is doing and say 54 - 35 percent that his first year in office is a success, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. This compares to a split 46 - 44 percent job approval in a December 21 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University. In today's survey, Republicans approve of Gov. Christie 82 - 11 percent and say 85 - 10 that his first year is a success. Independent voters also approve 55 - 36 percent and give him a 59 - 30 percent thumbs up for his first year. Democrats disapprove 66 - 27 percent and say 59 - 27 percent the governor's first year has been a failure. Given four choices for their attitudes about Christie: 41 percent like him as a person and like most of his policies; 17 percent like him as a person but dislike his policies; 9 percent dislike him as a person, but like his policies; 27 percent dislike him and his policies. "New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie is a real New Jersey guy and he stirs a lot of real New Jersey emotions," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "A lot of people like him and his policies and others who don't like his policies like him anyway. And then there are people who don't like him or his policies. Go figure. Or if you're a New Jersey guy, or a Jersey girl, and don't like to be told what to do - don't figure. "Christie's job approval jumps up and his first year is rated a success, but Democrats still don't much like him. President Obama's Approval President Barack Obama's job approval rating is growing in the Garden State and now stands at 55 - 41 percent, up from 50 - 45 percent in a December 21 Quinnipiac University poll and a negative 50 - 46 percent November 9. Democrats approve 90 - 8 percent and independent voters give him a narrow 49 - 45 percent thumbs up, but disapproval is 83 - 15 percent among Republicans. There is a gender split as men approve 50 - 46 percent while women approve 59 - 37 percent. White voters disapprove 50 - 45 percent while black voters approve 91 - 7 percent. "A bit of an up-tick for Obama. Black voters approve enthusiastically and he gets a slight negative among white voters," Carroll said. "New Jersey women like the president a lot more than men." New Jersey voters are feeling better about their two U.S. Senators, as well: Sen. Frank Lautenberg gets a 45 - 40 percent score, up from a 42 - 43 percent split December 21; Sen. Robert Menendez gets a 44 - 36 percent score, his highest approval ever and up from a negative 38 - 42 percent December 21. Democratic legislative leaders in Trenton still trail Christie: State Senate Majority Leader Stephen Sweeney gets a split 25 - 26 percent approval rating, with 48 percent undecided; State Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver has a 22 - 19 percent approval, with 59 percent undecided. Voters disapprove 45 - 32 percent of the way the Assembly is doing its job and disapprove 46 - 34 percent of the State Senate. "New Jerseyans don't think much of their State Legislature and they don't know much about their legislative leaders," Carroll said. From February 3 - 7, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,347 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio and the nation as a public service and for research. For more data or RSS feed- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter. 1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christopher Christie is handling his job as Governor? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 52% 82% 27% 55% 58% 46% 57% 22% Disapprove 40 11 66 36 35 44 35 71 DK/NA 8 7 8 9 7 10 8 8 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Approve 31% 51% 68% 49% 57% 40% 44% Disapprove 56 38 25 45 40 56 49 DK/NA 13 12 7 6 3 5 7 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christopher Christie is handling his job as Governor? Feb 09 Dec 21 Nov 11 Aug 19 Jun 17 2011 2010 2010 2010 2010 Approve 52 46 51 51 44 Disapprove 40 44 38 36 43 DK/NA 8 10 10 13 12 2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Stephen Sweeney is handling his job as State Senate Majority Leader? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 25% 23% 30% 23% 26% 25% 26% 32% Disapprove 26 24 23 30 28 24 24 28 DK/NA 48 53 47 47 46 51 51 40 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 26% 21% 22% 36% 26% Disapprove 29 25 25 25 28 DK/NA 45 54 52 40 46 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Stephen Sweeney is handling his job as State Senate Majority Leader? Feb 09 Nov 09 Aug 19 2011 2010 2010 Approve 25 20 17 Disapprove 26 28 28 DK/NA 48 52 55 3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Sheila Oliver is handling her job as Assembly Speaker? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 22% 14% 28% 22% 22% 23% 19% 39% Disapprove 19 24 14 20 23 14 18 16 DK/NA 59 62 58 58 55 63 63 45 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 34% 20% 20% 19% 23% Disapprove 15 19 18 21 19 DK/NA 52 61 62 60 57 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Sheila Oliver is handling her job as Assembly Speaker? Feb 09 Nov 09 Aug 19 2011 2010 2010 Approve 22 19 19 Disapprove 19 22 19 DK/NA 59 59 63 4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state assembly is handling its job? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 32% 31% 34% 32% 33% 31% 32% 38% Disapprove 45 49 42 47 49 42 45 44 DK/NA 22 20 24 22 18 27 23 18 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 34% 35% 27% 32% 33% Disapprove 40 41 49 48 49 DK/NA 26 24 24 20 18 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state assembly is handling its job? Feb 09 Dec 21 Nov 09 Aug 19 2011 2010 2010 2010 Approve 32 25 28 28 Disapprove 45 52 51 45 DK/NA 22 23 21 27 5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state senate is handling its job? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 34% 33% 38% 33% 34% 35% 34% 37% Disapprove 46 50 42 47 49 43 46 46 DK/NA 20 18 20 20 17 22 19 17 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 31% 38% 25% 36% 39% Disapprove 47 41 52 46 45 DK/NA 22 21 23 18 16 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state senate is handling its job? Feb 09 Dec 21 Nov 09 Aug 19 2011 2010 2010 2010 Approve 34 31 29 30 Disapprove 46 50 53 46 DK/NA 20 19 18 24 6. 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 44% 21% 63% 41% 42% 45% 42% 60% Disapprove 36 58 17 39 41 32 39 13 DK/NA 20 20 20 20 17 23 19 27 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 56% 47% 40% 43% 32% Disapprove 24 36 39 32 49 DK/NA 20 17 21 25 18 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Robert Menendez is handling his job as United States Senator? APPROVE....... DIS.. High Low High Feb 09 Dec 21 Nov 09 Jun 17 Feb 09 Feb 20 Jun 17 2011 2010 2010 2010 2011 2008 2010 Approve 44 38 38 38 44 30 38 Disapprove 36 42 41 43 36 31 43 DK/NA 20 20 20 18 20 39 18 7. 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 45% 22% 66% 43% 45% 46% 42% 67% Disapprove 40 61 18 45 44 36 44 16 DK/NA 15 17 17 12 11 18 13 17 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 61% 45% 41% 45% 39% Disapprove 21 44 42 37 49 DK/NA 18 11 17 18 12 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Frank Lautenberg is handling his job as United States Senator? (*High approve also 55% Sep 1999 & Jul 1999) APPROVE....... DIS... High Low High Feb 09 Dec 21 Nov 09 Jun 17 Jul 27 Feb 20 June 17 2011 2010 2010 2010 2000* 2008 2010 Approve 45 42 43 40 55 39 40 Disapprove 40 43 44 47 22 31 47 DK/NA 15 15 13 13 23 29 13 8. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 55% 15% 90% 49% 50% 59% 45% 91% Disapprove 41 83 8 45 46 37 50 7 DK/NA 4 3 2 6 4 4 4 2 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 73% 52% 48% 58% 48% Disapprove 24 42 48 40 49 DK/NA 3 6 4 2 3 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? APPROVE....... DIS... High Low High Feb 09 Dec 21 Nov 09 Aug 19 Jun 10 Nov 09 Nov 09 2011 2010 2010 2010 2009 2010 2010 Approve 55 50 46 47 68 46 46 Disapprove 41 45 50 47 25 50 50 DK/NA 4 5 4 6 7 4 4 9. 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 2% 2% 2% 2% 3% 2% 2% 4% Smwht satisfied 34 41 26 38 38 30 34 26 Smwht dissatisfied 37 32 43 35 35 40 38 40 Very dissatisfied 26 24 27 25 24 28 26 29 DK/NA - - 1 - - 1 - 1 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Very satisfied 1% 3% 1% 3% 4% 1% 1% Smwht satisfied 30 34 41 32 31 31 39 Smwht dissatisfied 41 38 38 34 37 38 31 Very dissatisfied 27 25 20 31 28 31 28 DK/NA - - 1 - 1 - - 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? (*High also 71% Feb 1999) VERY+SMWHT SAT High Low Feb 09 Dec 21 Nov 09 Aug 19 Jun 17 Dec 26 Jun 17 2011 2010 2010 2010 2010 2000* 2010 Very satisfied 2 2 4 3 2 10 2 Smwht satisfied 34 30 28 30 22 61 22 Smwht dissatisfied 37 36 32 37 36 21 36 Very dissatisfied 26 31 35 29 39 7 39 DK/NA - 1 1 1 1 1 1 10. Which party would you like to see control the New Jersey State Legislature after the elections in November the Democratic Party or the Republican Party? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Democratic Party 43% 2% 90% 30% 38% 47% 39% 73% Republican Party 41 91 4 44 45 38 47 15 DK/NA 16 7 6 26 16 15 15 13 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Democratic Party 57% 43% 38% 50% 29% Republican Party 24 41 48 38 52 DK/NA 18 16 14 13 19 TREND: Which party would you like to see control the New Jersey State Legislature after the elections in November -- the Democratic Party or the Republican Party? Feb 09 Jun 15 Sep 24 Jul 13 Jun 18 Apr 02 Jul 03 2011 2005 2003 2003 2003 2003 2001 Democratic Party 43 48 48 44 49 41 46 Republican Party 41 39 37 37 40 40 38 DK/NA 16 13 14 19 12 20 16 11. Which one of the following statements comes closest to the way you feel about Christopher Christie; A) I like Christopher Christie as a person and I also like most of his policies B) I like Christopher Christie as a person but I don't like most of his policies C) I don't like Christopher Christie as a person but I do like most of his policies D) I don't like Christopher Christie as a person and I also don't like most of his policies? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Person/Policies 41% 76% 15% 41% 45% 36% 46% 13% Person/Not policies 17 7 25 17 17 18 13 30 Policies/Not person 9 6 10 9 10 8 10 3 Not Pol/Not person 27 6 45 24 22 31 25 47 DK/NA 6 4 5 8 6 7 5 7 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Person/Policies 25% 41% 51% 35% 47% 30% 34% Person/Not policies 27 15 14 11 22 16 17 Policies/Not person 5 8 13 13 5 9 11 Not Pol/Not person 33 29 19 34 19 42 34 DK/NA 11 7 2 7 6 3 3 12. Do you think Christopher Christie's first year as governor has been mainly a success or mainly a failure? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Success 54% 85% 27% 59% 60% 49% 61% 22% Failure 35 10 59 30 28 41 30 62 DK/NA 11 5 14 11 11 10 9 17 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Success 32% 55% 67% 50% 62% 42% 50% Failure 51 33 25 38 30 49 43 DK/NA 17 12 8 11 7 9 7
