August 17, 2011 - Christie Is Flat And Obama Is Down In New Jersey, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters Are Not Worried About Gov's Health Word format New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie stops his slide and flattens out with a 47 - 46 percent job approval rating from New Jersey voters, his best score in four months, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. But women voters still disapprove by big margins. This compares to a negative 44 - 47 percent score in a June 21 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University. In today's survey, approval is 84 - 12 percent among Republicans and 53 - 39 percent among independent voters. Democrats disapprove 76 - 17 percent. The gender gap is still wide as men approve 58 - 36 percent while women disapprove 55 - 37 percent. "The Ex-urbs and the Shore folks love the Gov. He slips a little in the suburbs and falls behind in the cities and the Philadelphia suburbs as he inches himself back to the plus side," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. By a 50 - 35 percent margin, New Jersey voters like Gov. Christie as a person. While 76 percent of voters have read or heard something about the governor's recent asthma attack, only 18 percent say they are personally worried about his health. The worry level is low among all groups and in all regions of the state. "Almost all the neighbors heard about Gov. Christie's asthma attack. They might have read his lament about being over-weight, but they're not worried about his health," Carroll said. Christie and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo are similar in their approach to cutting costs and balancing budgets, 24 percent of voters say, while 38 percent say they're different and 38 percent don't know. New Jersey voters say 39 - 31 percent that Christie is a better cost-cutter and budget- balancer than Cuomo, with 27 percent undecided. Christie is better, Republicans say 70 - 9 percent and independent voters say 44 - 25 percent. Democrats back Cuomo 53 - 14 percent. "Looking across the Hudson, some pundits say Gov. Christie and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo are ideological twins. New Jersey voters aren't so sure, and they think their governor is better than New York's at curbing costs and cutting budgets," Carroll said. "Last week, New York State voters told us 40 - 29 percent that their Gov was better." President Barack Obama is headed in the wrong direction as New Jersey voters disapprove 52 - 44 percent of the job he is doing, down from a 50 - 46 percent positive score June 21 and the president's lowest score ever in the Garden State. Again, the gender gap is huge as men disapprove 60 - 37 percent while women approve 51 - 44 percent. Turning thumbs down on Obama are Republicans 93 - 6 percent and independent voters 57 - 39 percent. Democrats approve 77 - 17 percent. "Politics makes bad pillow talk in New Jersey," Carroll said. "There are big gender gaps in the approval ratings for Gov. Christopher Christie, with men for him and women against him, and President Barack Obama, who does much better among women than he does among men." New Jersey voters say 49 - 45 percent that Obama does not deserve to be reelected, but say 45 - 37 percent that they would vote for Obama over an unnamed Republican challenger in the 2012 presidential race. U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez has a slightly negative 39 - 42 percent approval rating, down from a positive 45 - 38 percent score June 21. Voters split 41 - 43 percent on whether Menendez deserves reelection in 2012, but back him 45 - 39 percent over an unnamed Republican challenger. "Sen. Robert Menendez has a lot of work to do with his re-election year coming up," Carroll said. "The debt ceiling hullaballoo has taken a toll on him and on President Obama." From August 9 - 15, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,624 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, Virginia 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 47% 84% 17% 53% 58% 37% 54% 11% Disapprove 46 12 76 39 36 55 38 81 DK/NA 7 4 8 8 6 8 8 7 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 27% 45% 62% 41% 56% Disapprove 63 49 32 54 34 DK/NA 10 6 6 6 10 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christopher Christie is handling his job as Governor? (*Low approve also 44% Jun 2010) APPROVE....... High Low Aug 17 Jun 21 Apr 20 Feb 09 Dec 21 Feb 09 Jun 21 2011 2011 2011 2011 2010 2011 2011* Approve 47 44 47 52 46 52 44 Disapprove 46 47 46 40 44 40 47 DK/NA 7 10 7 8 10 8 10 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 23% 24% 23% 24% 26% 21% 23% 24% Disapprove 40 37 40 43 42 38 41 39 DK/NA 36 39 37 33 31 41 36 37 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 22% 21% 21% 32% 24% Disapprove 38 39 42 37 44 DK/NA 41 40 37 30 32 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Stephen Sweeney is handling his job as State Senate Majority Leader? Aug 17 Jun 21 Apr 20 Feb 09 Nov 09 Aug 19 2011 2011 2011 2011 2010 2010 Approve 23 25 26 25 20 17 Disapprove 40 33 31 26 28 28 DK/NA 36 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 21% 12% 29% 19% 20% 21% 16% 39% Disapprove 25 27 20 30 30 20 26 21 DK/NA 54 61 52 52 50 59 58 40 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 29% 22% 15% 19% 20% Disapprove 31 25 25 17 27 DK/NA 40 52 60 64 54 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Sheila Oliver is handling her job as Assembly Speaker? Aug 17 Jun 21 Apr 20 Feb 09 Nov 09 Aug 19 2011 2011 2011 2011 2010 2010 Approve 21 24 22 22 19 19 Disapprove 25 22 21 19 22 19 DK/NA 54 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 25% 35% 23% 23% 28% 23% 26% 26% Disapprove 55 45 58 58 57 53 54 54 DK/NA 20 20 19 19 15 24 20 20 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 23% 24% 30% 26% 23% Disapprove 59 55 50 57 54 DK/NA 18 20 20 16 23 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state assembly is handling its job? Aug 17 Jun 21 Apr 20 Feb 09 Dec 21 Nov 09 Aug 19 2011 2011 2011 2011 2010 2010 2010 Approve 25 27 26 32 25 28 28 Disapprove 55 51 53 45 52 51 45 DK/NA 20 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 27% 37% 25% 26% 31% 24% 26% 34% Disapprove 57 49 59 59 57 57 57 55 DK/NA 16 15 16 16 12 19 17 11 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 28% 28% 29% 28% 25% Disapprove 62 56 50 57 61 DK/NA 11 16 20 15 15 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state senate is handling its job? Aug 17 Jun 21 Apr 20 Feb 09 Dec 21 Nov 09 Aug 19 2011 2011 2011 2011 2010 2010 2010 Approve 27 31 30 34 31 29 30 Disapprove 57 52 55 46 50 53 46 DK/NA 16 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 39% 24% 54% 35% 39% 39% 35% 48% Disapprove 42 56 24 51 48 37 46 28 DK/NA 19 20 23 14 13 24 19 23 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 51% 42% 39% 34% 31% Disapprove 37 41 45 41 46 DK/NA 12 17 15 25 23 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Robert Menendez is handling his job as United States Senator? APPROVE....... High Low Aug 17 Jun 21 Apr 20 Feb 09 Dec 21 Jun 21 Feb 20 2011 2011 2011 2011 2010 2011 2008 Approve 39 45 42 44 38 45 30 Disapprove 42 38 40 36 42 38 31 DK/NA 19 18 18 20 20 18 39 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 43% 25% 64% 36% 41% 45% 39% 63% Disapprove 45 63 23 53 50 40 50 24 DK/NA 12 12 13 11 9 15 11 13 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 55% 45% 39% 42% 38% Disapprove 31 43 54 43 51 DK/NA 14 12 8 15 11 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....... High Low Aug 17 Jun 21 Apr 20 Feb 09 Dec 21 Jul 27 Feb 20 2011 2011 2011 2011 2010 2000* 2008 Approve 43 46 44 45 42 55 39 Disapprove 45 40 42 40 43 22 31 DK/NA 12 14 14 15 15 23 29 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 44% 6% 77% 39% 37% 51% 35% 88% Disapprove 52 93 17 57 60 44 62 5 DK/NA 4 1 6 4 3 5 4 7 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 62% 43% 34% 50% 40% Disapprove 36 52 64 45 56 DK/NA 2 5 2 4 4 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? APPROVE....... High Low Aug 17 Jun 21 Apr 20 Feb 09 Dec 21 Jun 10 Aug 17 2011 2011 2011 2011 2010 2009 2011 Approve 44 50 51 55 50 68 44 Disapprove 52 46 45 41 45 25 52 DK/NA 4 4 4 4 5 7 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% 7% 1% 2% 2% 3% 3% - Smwht satisfied 31 44 21 32 34 27 33 18 Smwht dissatisfied 35 25 42 35 33 38 34 41 Very dissatisfied 31 24 36 30 30 32 29 40 DK/NA - - - 1 1 - - 2 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Very satisfied 2% 1% 3% 3% 6% Smwht satisfied 34 30 36 21 34 Smwht dissatisfied 35 38 32 35 34 Very dissatisfied 29 30 29 41 26 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 Aug 17 Jun 21 Apr 20 Feb 09 Dec 21 Dec 26 Jun 17 2011 2011 2011 2011 2010 2000* 2010 Very satisfied 3 3 2 2 2 10 2 Smwht satisfied 31 31 31 34 30 61 22 Smwht dissatisfied 35 34 34 37 36 21 36 Very dissatisfied 31 31 32 26 31 7 39 DK/NA - 1 1 - 1 1 1 10. Looking ahead to the 2012 election for President... If the 2012 election for President were being held today, do you think you would vote for Barack Obama the Democratic candidate, or for the Republican candidate? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Obama 45% 3% 85% 35% 40% 49% 36% 82% Republican 37 83 5 37 42 31 45 3 DEPENDS ON CAND(VOL) 9 7 3 14 9 8 9 5 DK/NA 10 6 7 14 9 11 10 9 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Obama 57% 49% 33% 51% 35% Republican 25 33 50 30 43 DEPENDS ON CAND(VOL) 7 8 7 12 9 DK/NA 10 10 10 8 13 11. Looking ahead to the 2012 election for President... Do you feel that Barack Obama 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/Deserves 45% 6% 83% 36% 39% 52% 36% 86% No/Does not 49 92 11 57 56 42 59 5 DK/NA 6 2 6 8 5 7 5 8 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes/Deserves 61% 46% 35% 52% 38% No/Does not 35 47 60 43 55 DK/NA 4 7 5 6 7 12. Looking ahead to the 2012 election for United States Senator... If the 2012 election for United States Senator were being held today, do you think you would vote for Robert Menendez the Democratic candidate, or for the Republican candidate? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Menendez 45% 8% 81% 35% 41% 49% 36% 77% Republican 39 85 6 42 46 32 47 9 DEPENDS ON CAND(VOL) 6 4 3 10 5 6 6 3 DK/NA 10 4 10 14 8 13 11 11 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Menendez 61% 50% 31% 50% 35% Republican 28 34 52 32 48 DEPENDS ON CAND(VOL) 5 6 6 7 5 DK/NA 5 10 11 11 13 13. Looking ahead to the 2012 election for United States Senator... Do you feel that Robert Menendez 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/Deserves 41% 15% 65% 34% 39% 43% 35% 56% No/Does not 43 74 16 50 51 35 49 23 DK/NA 16 11 19 16 10 22 16 21 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes/Deserves 58% 44% 31% 43% 32% No/Does not 31 39 53 40 50 DK/NA 12 17 16 17 18 14. 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 50% 79% 24% 57% 57% 43% 55% 22% Don't Like 35 11 59 27 29 40 33 48 DK/NA 16 10 18 17 14 17 12 30 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Like 40% 49% 62% 43% 54% Don't Like 37 35 28 45 30 DK/NA 23 17 11 13 16 TREND: Regardless of how you feel about Christopher Christie's policies, would you say you like or don't like Christopher Christie as a person? Aug 17 Jun 21 2011 2011 Like 50 49 Don't Like 35 33 DK/NA 16 19 15. 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 48% 84% 17% 56% 58% 39% 56% 13% Don't Like 47 14 77 40 37 57 39 81 DK/NA 5 3 6 4 5 5 5 6 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Like 27% 45% 64% 41% 59% Don't Like 68 50 32 54 35 DK/NA 5 5 4 4 6 TREND: 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? Aug 17 Jun 21 2011 2011 Like 48 45 Don't Like 47 49 DK/NA 5 6 16. Do you think the Christie-for-President talk represents a serious political movement or just political gossip? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Serious movement 24% 26% 24% 22% 23% 25% 24% 22% Political gossip 69 68 67 73 71 68 69 70 DK/NA 7 6 8 5 6 7 6 8 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Serious movement 24% 23% 23% 21% 29% Political gossip 71 73 70 70 63 DK/NA 5 5 6 9 8 TREND: Do you think the Christie-for-President talk represents a serious political movement or just political gossip? Aug 17 Dec 21 Nov 09 2011 2010 2010 Serious movement 24 27 25 Political gossip 69 65 67 DK/NA 7 8 8 17. 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 48% 7% 91% 34% 43% 53% 40% 83% Republican Party 40 89 5 44 46 34 49 5 DK/NA 12 4 4 23 11 13 12 12 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Democratic Party 66% 49% 33% 55% 39% Republican Party 25 38 55 33 47 DK/NA 8 12 13 11 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) Aug 17 Jun 21 Apr 20 Feb 09 Jun 15 Sep 24 Jul 13 2011 2011 2011 2011 2005 2003 2003 Democratic Party 48 44 47 43 48 48 44 Republican Party 40 42 39 41 39 37 37 DK/NA 12 14 14 16 13 14 19 18. Thinking about President Barack Obama and New Jersey Governor Christopher Christie... Who do you think is a better leader Christie or Obama? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Christie 44% 86% 9% 50% 52% 36% 52% 4% Obama 49 7 87 39 40 56 40 91 NO DIFF(VOL) 2 2 1 4 3 2 2 2 DK/NA 6 5 3 8 5 6 6 3 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Christie 26% 43% 59% 35% 51% Obama 68 50 33 56 41 NO DIFF(VOL) 2 2 2 2 2 DK/NA 4 5 6 7 6 19. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christopher Christie is handling the state budget? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 50% 83% 19% 60% 62% 39% 58% 17% Disapprove 46 13 75 38 34 57 38 81 DK/NA 4 3 6 2 4 4 4 2 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 31% 49% 62% 46% 59% Disapprove 67 47 33 51 37 DK/NA 2 3 5 3 4 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christopher Christie is handling the state budget? Aug 17 Jun 21 Apr 21 Feb 10 Nov 11 Jun 17 2011 2011 2011 2011 2010 2010 Approve 50 47 50 53 52 45 Disapprove 46 48 46 41 42 49 DK/NA 4 6 4 5 6 6 20. 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 23% 8% 39% 20% 20% 27% 18% 41% Disapprove 63 83 42 68 68 58 68 42 DK/NA 14 9 19 12 11 16 13 17 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 40% 23% 17% 22% 21% Disapprove 54 60 70 64 64 DK/NA 6 16 13 14 15 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Democrats in the state legislature are handling the state budget? Aug 17 Jun 21 2011 2011 Approve 23 20 Disapprove 63 66 DK/NA 14 14 21. Thinking about New Jersey Governor Christopher Christie and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo - would you say that Christie and Cuomo are similar or different in their approach to cutting costs and balancing their state budget, or don't you know? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Similar 24% 32% 16% 26% 26% 21% 24% 18% Different 38 35 43 36 41 35 37 38 DK/NA 38 33 41 38 32 43 39 44 22a. (if 'similar' q21) Would you say that they are very similar, or just somewhat similar? SIMILAR Q21........................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Very similar 16% 13% 12% 21% 19% 13% Somewhat similar 83 87 86 79 81 86 DK/NA 1 1 2 - 1 1 22b. (if 'different' q21) Would you say that they are very different, or just somewhat different? DIFFERENT Q21......................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Very different 52% 52% 53% 51% 55% 48% Somewhat different 46 44 46 47 43 49 DK/NA 2 4 2 2 2 3 23. Who do you think is doing a better job cutting costs and balancing their state budget Cuomo or Christie? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Cuomo 31% 9% 53% 25% 28% 33% 26% 51% Christie 39 70 14 44 49 31 44 14 NO DIFF(VOL) 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 5 DK/NA 27 18 30 28 20 33 27 31 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Cuomo 50% 35% 23% 22% 25% Christie 20 38 48 35 51 NO DIFF(VOL) 6 2 2 3 3 DK/NA 24 25 26 40 21 28. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christopher Christie is handling education? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 44% 78% 15% 50% 51% 37% 51% 12% Disapprove 52 15 82 45 44 59 44 86 DK/NA 5 6 3 5 5 4 5 2 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 27% 41% 58% 39% 51% Disapprove 70 54 40 55 43 DK/NA 3 5 2 6 6 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christopher Christie is handling education? Aug 17 Jun 21 Apr 21 Feb 10 Dec 21 2011 2011 2011 2011 2010 Approve 44 41 44 47 45 Disapprove 52 55 52 48 49 DK/NA 5 4 4 5 6 33. Have you heard or read anything about Christopher Christie's asthma attack? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 76% 78% 71% 79% 76% 76% 80% 69% No 24 22 28 21 24 23 20 31 DK/NA - - 1 - - - - - Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes 72% 76% 80% 71% 79% No 26 24 19 29 21 DK/NA 1 1 1 - - 34. Governor Christie says he is overweight and that to combat it he's been eating better and working with a trainer more consistently. Are you personally worried about Governor Christie's health or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 18% 20% 18% 17% 16% 19% 17% 20% No 80 79 79 80 83 77 81 76 DK/NA 2 1 2 2 1 3 1 4 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes 18% 17% 21% 16% 18% No 77 81 78 82 79 DK/NA 4 1 1 2 3 Demographic Summary
