June 21, 2011 - Big Gender Gap Drops New Jersey's Christie To New Low, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters Say 2-1 He'd Make A Bad Vice President Word format Disapproval from women drives New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie to a slightly negative 44 - 47 percent job approval rating, his lowest grade ever, but he's doing better than most governors in other states surveyed by Quinnipiac University. Women disapprove of the job Gov. Christie is doing 54 - 36 percent, while men approve 53 - 39 percent, a 17-point gender gap, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Approval is 76 - 15 percent among Republicans and 47 - 44 percent among independent voters, while Democrats disapprove 75 - 17 percent. Workers in union households disapprove 63 - 29 percent. Approval ratings for other governors are: New York's Andrew Cuomo, 61 - 18 percent June 1; Connecticut's Dannel Malloy, 38 - 44 percent June 15; Pennsylvania's Tom Corbett, 39 - 38 percent June 14; Florida's Rick Scott, 29 - 57 percent May 25; Ohio's John Kasich, 38 - 49 percent May 18. While voters dislike Christie's policies by a narrow 49 - 45 percent, they like him as a person 49 - 33 percent. Men like him 58 - 25 percent while women split 41 - 40 percent. "New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie's job approval is slightly under water, but he's doing better than the other governors that Quinnipiac University asks about, except for New York's Andrew Cuomo," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Gov. Christie is having a big problem with women, perhaps because they care more about schools and disapprove 60 - 34 percent of the way he's handling education." "But voters like their 'Jersey guy' governor better as a person than they like his policies," Carroll added. "Men like him a lot; women, not so much." Voters disapprove 55 - 41 percent of the way Christie is handling education, his lowest grade on this issue, and split 47 - 48 percent on his handling of the state budget. The gender gap is big on both issues. New Jersey voters disapprove by a huge 66 - 20 percent of the way Democrats in the State Legislature are handling the budget. Christie would not make a good vice president, voters say 61 - 32 percent. A total of 43 percent say it is "very likely" or "somewhat likely" that the Republican presidential nominee will pick Christie as his running mate, while 52 percent say "not very likely" or "not likely at all." Criticism of the governor's helicopter ride to see his son play baseball is "much ado about nothing," 51 percent of those who heard about it say, while 46 percent say it is legitimate. "The helicopter ride from hell? Measure for measure, voters narrowly think it's much ado about nothing more than a serious issue," Carroll said. Looking at public school funding, New Jersey voters say: 56 - 40 percent support more tax dollars for schools in the state's poorest districts; 62 - 36 percent support more funding to improve all schools; 49 - 45 percent say the State Supreme Court was right to order increased spending for the state's poorest schools; 74 - 18 percent say cut state spending rather than raise taxes to pay more for schools; 65 - 29 percent support a millionaire's tax to fund schools. "How to accommodate that Supreme Court order on school spending looks like the time bomb in the state budget - and voter opinion is mixed," Carroll said. "Should the state spend more on poor schools? Most think so. A larger majority think ALL schools should get more state money. Narrowly, voters say the court was right to order the additional spending on poor schools. How to get the money? Cut spending, rather than raise taxes, voters say. But they'd go for a 'millionaire's tax.'" From June 14 - 19, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,610 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.4 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 44% 76% 17% 47% 53% 36% 49% 11% Disapprove 47 15 75 44 39 54 42 80 DK/NA 10 9 9 10 9 10 8 9 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Approve 37% 44% 54% 33% 50% 29% 45% Disapprove 55 45 36 58 42 63 45 DK/NA 8 11 10 9 8 8 9 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christopher Christie is handling his job as Governor? Jun 21 Apr 20 Feb 09 Dec 21 Nov 11 Aug 19 Jun 17 2011 2011 2011 2010 2010 2010 2010 Approve 44 47 52 46 51 51 44 Disapprove 47 46 40 44 38 36 43 DK/NA 10 7 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% 30% 23% 24% 27% 23% 24% 32% Disapprove 33 26 34 35 36 30 31 36 DK/NA 42 43 43 41 38 47 44 32 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Approve 30% 20% 25% 24% 29% 19% 25% Disapprove 32 32 30 41 28 45 38 DK/NA 37 48 45 35 43 36 37 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Stephen Sweeney is handling his job as State Senate Majority Leader? Jun 21 Apr 20 Feb 09 Nov 09 Aug 19 2011 2011 2011 2010 2010 Approve 25 26 25 20 17 Disapprove 33 31 26 28 28 DK/NA 42 43 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 24% 19% 30% 22% 22% 25% 21% 37% Disapprove 22 25 15 24 29 15 22 19 DK/NA 55 56 54 54 49 60 57 44 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Approve 35% 21% 23% 24% 21% 23% 22% Disapprove 23 20 23 20 23 26 24 DK/NA 41 60 53 56 56 51 54 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Sheila Oliver is handling her job as Assembly Speaker? Jun 21 Apr 20 Feb 09 Nov 09 Aug 19 2011 2011 2011 2010 2010 Approve 24 22 22 19 19 Disapprove 22 21 19 22 19 DK/NA 55 57 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 27% 28% 32% 23% 27% 27% 27% 32% Disapprove 51 49 45 56 55 48 50 50 DK/NA 22 23 23 21 19 25 22 18 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Approve 31% 26% 31% 25% 25% 21% 25% Disapprove 52 48 49 54 54 60 56 DK/NA 17 26 20 21 22 19 19 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state assembly is handling its job? Jun 21 Apr 20 Feb 09 Dec 21 Nov 09 Aug 19 2011 2011 2011 2010 2010 2010 Approve 27 26 32 25 28 28 Disapprove 51 53 45 52 51 45 DK/NA 22 22 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 31% 33% 32% 28% 32% 30% 31% 31% Disapprove 52 49 50 56 53 50 52 59 DK/NA 17 18 19 16 14 20 18 10 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Approve 35% 29% 34% 30% 30% 27% 30% Disapprove 50 50 52 53 54 61 55 DK/NA 15 22 14 17 16 12 15 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state senate is handling its job? Jun 21 Apr 20 Feb 09 Dec 21 Nov 09 Aug 19 2011 2011 2011 2010 2010 2010 Approve 31 30 34 31 29 30 Disapprove 52 55 46 50 53 46 DK/NA 17 15 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 45% 30% 66% 36% 42% 46% 43% 59% Disapprove 38 55 15 45 43 32 40 18 DK/NA 18 15 19 18 14 21 17 23 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Approve 56% 44% 41% 44% 41% 48% 43% Disapprove 32 40 42 34 38 31 42 DK/NA 12 16 17 23 21 21 15 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Robert Menendez is handling his job as United States Senator? APPROVE....... DIS.. High Low High Jun 21 Apr 20 Feb 09 Dec 21 Jun 21 Feb 20 Jun 17 2011 2011 2011 2010 2011 2008 2010 Approve 45 42 44 38 45 30 38 Disapprove 38 40 36 42 38 31 43 DK/NA 18 18 20 20 18 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 46% 28% 69% 40% 42% 50% 45% 63% Disapprove 40 61 18 47 48 33 42 26 DK/NA 14 11 14 13 10 17 13 11 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Approve 56% 48% 41% 44% 42% 44% 41% Disapprove 36 39 45 39 43 39 45 DK/NA 8 12 14 17 16 17 13 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 Jun 21 Apr 20 Feb 09 Dec 21 Jul 27 Feb 20 June 17 2011 2011 2011 2010 2000* 2008 2010 Approve 46 44 45 42 55 39 40 Disapprove 40 42 40 43 22 31 47 DK/NA 14 14 15 15 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 50% 18% 84% 42% 44% 56% 42% 89% Disapprove 46 80 13 51 53 39 54 7 DK/NA 4 2 3 7 3 5 4 4 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Approve 59% 51% 38% 57% 46% 56% 50% Disapprove 38 43 59 38 51 41 46 DK/NA 3 5 3 5 3 3 4 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? APPROVE....... DIS... High Low High Jun 21 Apr 20 Feb 09 Dec 21 Jun 10 Nov 09 Nov 09 2011 2011 2011 2010 2009 2010 2010 Approve 50 51 55 50 68 46 46 Disapprove 46 45 41 45 25 50 50 DK/NA 4 4 4 5 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 3% 5% 2% 1% 2% 3% 2% 1% Smwht satisfied 31 45 25 27 35 27 33 27 Smwht dissatisfied 34 28 38 37 31 37 35 34 Very dissatisfied 31 21 35 34 31 32 30 38 DK/NA 1 1 - 1 1 - - - Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Very satisfied 4% 2% 2% 3% 2% 1% 3% Smwht satisfied 33 32 35 25 30 19 26 Smwht dissatisfied 32 34 32 34 38 36 39 Very dissatisfied 31 31 30 37 28 42 32 DK/NA - 1 - - 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 Jun 21 Apr 20 Feb 09 Dec 21 Nov 09 Dec 26 Jun 17 2011 2011 2011 2010 2010 2000* 2010 Very satisfied 3 2 2 2 4 10 2 Smwht satisfied 31 31 34 30 28 61 22 Smwht dissatisfied 34 34 37 36 32 21 36 Very dissatisfied 31 32 26 31 35 7 39 DK/NA 1 1 - 1 1 1 1 10. Regardless of how you feel about Christopher Christie's policies, would you say you like or don't like Christopher Christie as a person? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Like 49% 77% 28% 50% 58% 41% 52% 32% Don't Like 33 10 52 32 25 40 32 45 DK/NA 19 13 20 18 17 20 16 23 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Like 47% 48% 56% 40% 53% 36% 48% Don't Like 37 35 26 36 28 42 29 DK/NA 16 17 18 24 19 22 23 11. And regardless of how you feel about Christopher Christie as a person, would you say you like or don't like most of Christopher Christie's policies? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Like 45% 78% 17% 50% 54% 38% 52% 11% Don't Like 49 14 78 46 42 55 43 87 DK/NA 6 8 5 4 5 7 5 1 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Like 41% 47% 58% 33% 49% 30% 47% Don't Like 55 47 38 58 46 63 47 DK/NA 4 6 4 9 5 7 6 12. Do you think Christopher Christie would make a good Vice President or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 32% 63% 10% 32% 38% 27% 38% 9% No 61 31 84 62 56 67 57 89 DK/NA 6 6 6 6 6 6 5 2 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Yes 33% 29% 39% 28% 36% 24% 36% No 61 65 53 66 58 73 57 DK/NA 7 6 8 6 6 3 7 TREND: Do you think Christopher Christie would make a good Vice President or not? Jun 21 Dec 21 2011 2010 Yes 32 32 No 61 59 DK/NA 6 8 13. How likely do you think it is that Christopher Christie will be selected by the Republican Presidential nominee to be their Vice-Presidential running mate - Very likely, somewhat likely, not very likely, or not likely at all? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Very likely 10% 15% 9% 8% 11% 9% 10% 14% Somewhat likely 33 33 33 35 33 34 34 32 Not very likely 28 28 26 29 28 28 30 23 Not likely at all 24 20 27 23 24 24 21 27 DK/NA 5 3 5 5 4 5 5 4 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Very likely 8% 11% 12% 9% 10% 11% 10% Somewhat likely 32 32 38 31 33 32 34 Not very likely 26 29 24 31 28 24 30 Not likely at all 31 23 22 23 24 26 24 DK/NA 4 5 3 6 5 7 3 14. 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 44% 3% 94% 29% 38% 49% 38% 82% Republican Party 42 93 3 42 47 37 48 8 DK/NA 14 4 3 29 15 14 14 10 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Democratic Party 50% 42% 33% 54% 42% 58% 39% Republican Party 37 43 52 32 43 28 47 DK/NA 13 15 15 14 14 14 14 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? (Additional data available on request through April 2003) Jun 21 Apr 20 Feb 09 Jun 15 Sep 24 Jul 13 Jun 18 2011 2011 2011 2005 2003 2003 2003 Democratic Party 44 47 43 48 48 44 49 Republican Party 42 39 41 39 37 37 40 DK/NA 14 14 16 13 14 19 12 15. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christopher Christie is handling education? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 41% 72% 16% 42% 49% 34% 47% 13% Disapprove 55 23 79 54 48 60 50 85 DK/NA 4 5 5 3 3 6 4 2 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Approve 35% 42% 48% 32% 47% 27% 41% Disapprove 59 54 48 63 49 69 56 DK/NA 6 4 3 5 4 4 3 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christopher Christie is handling education? Jun 21 Apr 21 Feb 10 Dec 21 2011 2011 2011 2010 Approve 41 44 47 45 Disapprove 55 52 48 49 DK/NA 4 4 5 6 16. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christopher Christie is handling the state budget? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 47% 78% 20% 50% 56% 38% 53% 15% Disapprove 48 17 75 44 40 55 43 81 DK/NA 6 5 5 6 4 7 4 4 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Approve 44% 46% 58% 37% 50% 36% 49% Disapprove 54 44 39 57 46 59 46 DK/NA 2 9 3 5 4 5 5 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christopher Christie is handling the state budget? Jun 21 Apr 21 Feb 10 Nov 11 Jun 17 2011 2011 2011 2010 2010 Approve 47 50 53 52 45 Disapprove 48 46 41 42 49 DK/NA 6 4 5 6 6 17. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Democrats in the state legislature are handling the state budget? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 20% 9% 36% 16% 20% 21% 19% 31% Disapprove 66 79 48 72 70 62 68 59 DK/NA 14 12 16 12 11 17 13 10 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Approve 23% 21% 14% 23% 19% 21% 20% Disapprove 65 60 76 65 68 66 74 DK/NA 12 18 11 12 13 13 7 18. Have you heard or read anything about Governor Christie's helicopter ride to his son's baseball game? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 88% 93% 83% 91% 89% 87% 93% 77% No 12 7 17 9 11 13 7 23 DK/NA - - - - - - - - Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Yes 78% 88% 93% 88% 92% 90% 87% No 22 12 7 12 8 10 12 DK/NA 1 - - - - - - 19.(If heard q18) Do you think the criticism of Governor Christie's helicopter ride to his son's baseball game is legitimate or much ado about nothing? HEARD OR READ Q18................................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Legitimate 46% 29% 57% 51% 43% 50% 45% 57% Much ado 51 68 41 48 55 48 52 43 DK/NA 2 3 2 1 2 2 3 - Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Legitimate 51% 45% 43% 51% 44% 55% 47% Much ado 46 52 56 47 54 44 51 DK/NA 3 3 1 3 2 1 2 20. Do you think the state legislature should spend more tax dollars to improve the public schools in New Jersey's poorest areas or don't you think so? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 56% 32% 81% 51% 49% 63% 50% 84% No 40 63 16 45 47 33 45 14 DK/NA 4 5 3 4 4 4 4 2 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Yes 70% 55% 47% 60% 53% 61% 59% No 26 41 49 37 44 34 39 DK/NA 4 5 4 3 3 5 2 TREND: Do you think the state legislature should spend more tax dollars to improve the public schools in New Jersey's poorest areas or don't you think so? Jun 21 Apr 21 2011 2011 Yes 56 57 No 40 39 DK/NA 4 4 21. Do you think the state legislature should spend more tax dollars to improve all of New Jersey's public schools or don't you think so? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 62% 47% 81% 57% 53% 70% 58% 89% No 36 51 18 40 45 27 40 10 DK/NA 2 2 1 3 2 3 2 1 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Yes 67% 61% 52% 66% 63% 68% 70% No 31 38 44 31 34 29 29 DK/NA 2 1 3 2 3 3 1 TREND: Do you think the state legislature should spend more tax dollars to improve all of New Jersey's public schools or don't you think so? Jun 21 Apr 21 2011 2011 Yes 62 60 No 36 36 DK/NA 2 3 22. Do you think the state supreme court was right to order the state legislature to spend more money to improve the public schools in New Jersey's poorest areas or don't you think the state supreme court should have done this? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes/right 49% 25% 75% 43% 43% 55% 42% 84% No/shouldn't have 45 70 20 50 52 38 52 14 DK/NA 6 4 5 7 4 7 6 2 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Yes/right 58% 49% 37% 57% 47% 56% 55% No/shouldn't have 38 43 59 40 47 40 43 DK/NA 4 8 3 3 6 3 2 23. Which do you think is a better way to pay for more funding for all of New Jersey's public schools - to cut state spending or to increase taxes? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Cut spending 74% 89% 63% 74% 73% 74% 74% 73% Increase taxes 18 5 31 15 18 17 17 19 DK/NA 9 6 6 11 9 9 9 9 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Cut spending 72% 73% 75% 73% 77% 69% 78% Increase taxes 24 17 17 16 16 21 16 DK/NA 4 10 8 11 7 9 6 24. Would you support or oppose the so called millionaire's tax, if the money went to New Jersey's public schools? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 65% 43% 84% 63% 60% 70% 63% 79% Oppose 29 50 12 30 36 22 31 14 DK/NA 6 6 5 7 4 8 6 8 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Support 71% 64% 57% 74% 62% 73% 67% Oppose 24 29 37 21 32 24 26 DK/NA 4 7 7 5 6 3 7
