October 13, 2011 - 'Jersey Shore' Is Bad For Garden State, Voters Say 4-1, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Obama's Approval, Reelection Prospects Are Low Word format The MTV show "Jersey Shore" is bad for the Garden State, New Jersey voters say 67 - 16 percent, including 67 - 26 percent among voters under 35 years old, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Voters say 71 - 20 percent that Gov. Christopher Christie did "the right thing" when he blocked a state tax credit for the show's production, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe- ack) University poll finds. Again, there is little difference among age groups as voters under 35 support the governor 71 - 25 percent. All other groups agree with the funding block. Voters also agree 78 - 17 percent with Christie's reasoning that taxpayers should not pay $420,000 for a show that "perpetuates misconceptions about the state and its citizens." By a 69 - 9 percent margin, New Jersey voters have an unfavorable opinion of "Jersey Shore," with 20 percent who haven't heard enough about it to make a decision. The breakdown by age group is: 18 - 34 years: 67 - 20 percent unfavorable with 12 percent who haven't heard enough; 35 - 54 years: 79 - 8 percent unfavorable with 11 percent who haven't heard enough; Over 54: 61 - 6 percent unfavorable, with 30 percent who haven't heard enough. "Garden State voters agree overwhelmingly with Gov. Christopher Christie's decision to slam the door on Snooki, The Situation and the rest of the 'Jersey Shore' crew," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "The show gets heavy negative ratings from New Jerseyans, including the seashore neighbors. They think the Seaside-based show is bad for the state. "Although there have been legal arguments against his decision, voters agree that Gov. Christie was 'duty bound' to do what he did." New Jersey voters disapprove 52 - 43 percent of the job President Barack Obama is doing, his lowest score ever in the Garden State. Disapproval is 88 - 10 percent among Republicans and 60 - 34 percent among independent voters. Democrats approve 77 - 19 percent. There is a large gender gap as women approve 50 - 45 percent while men disapprove 60 - 36 percent. Voters split 47 - 48 percent on whether President Obama deserves reelection. Obama leads possible Republican challengers in an early look at 2012 presidential election matchups: 47 - 41 percent over former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney; 49 - 36 percent over Texas Gov. Rick Perry; 47 - 38 percent over businessman Herman Cain. "President Barack Obama is in the dumps in traditionally blue New Jersey, but he's doing better than Snooki, and fortunately for the president, he's doing better than this week's crop of Republican contenders," Carroll said. U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez gets a 42 - 35 percent approval rating, up from a 39 - 42 percent score August 17. Voters split 40 - 38 percent on whether Menendez deserves another six-year term in the Senate. By a narrow 43 - 39 percent, voters say they would vote for Menendez over an unnamed Republican challenger. "Sen. Robert Menendez doesn't have a 2012 opponent yet, but he ought to be watchful. His job approval and 'deserves reelection' scores are pallid and even Democratic disapprovers are in the double digits," Carroll said. New Jersey voters approve 46 - 37 percent of the job U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg is doing, up from 43 - 45 percent in August. From October 5 - 10, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,186 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.9 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. (If Registered Republican)If the 2012 Republican primary for President were being held today, and the candidates were Rick Perry, Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, Michele Bachmann, Rick Santorum, Ron Paul, Jon Huntsman, and Herman Cain for whom would you vote? REGISTERED REPUBLICANS Tot Men Wom Perry 7% 10% 5% Gingrich 5 8 2 Romney 28 22 36 Bachmann 4 2 6 Santorum 1 2 1 Paul 11 13 9 Huntsman 2 2 3 Cain 17 21 13 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 3 4 3 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 2 2 DK/NA 18 15 20 2. If the 2012 election for President were being held today, and the candidates were Barack Obama the Democrat and - Mitt Romney the Republican, for whom would you vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Obama 47% 8% 87% 39% 42% 52% Romney 41 86 5 46 46 36 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 1 2 3 3 2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 3 1 1 4 4 2 DK/NA 7 4 5 7 5 8 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Obama 60% 50% 47% 50% 33% Romney 28 39 41 37 55 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 3 2 4 - 4 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 4 3 1 3 DK/NA 7 6 4 11 5 3. If the 2012 election for President were being held today, and the candidates were Barack Obama the Democrat and - Rick Perry the Republican, for whom would you vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Obama 49% 9% 88% 40% 43% 54% Perry 36 79 4 38 43 29 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 3 3 1 4 3 2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 4 3 1 7 5 3 DK/NA 9 6 6 11 6 11 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Obama 59% 49% 49% 54% 36% Perry 25 33 35 35 50 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 3 3 2 4 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 3 7 6 - 4 DK/NA 11 9 7 9 6 4. If the 2012 election for President were being held today, and the candidates were Barack Obama the Democrat and - Herman Cain the Republican, for whom would you vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Obama 47% 8% 86% 40% 43% 51% Cain 38 79 5 41 43 32 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 3 3 - 5 4 2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 3 2 1 5 4 2 DK/NA 9 8 7 9 6 12 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Obama 60% 49% 48% 52% 31% Cain 24 33 41 33 55 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 3 2 1 5 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 5 3 1 3 DK/NA 13 10 7 11 5 5. Compared to past presidential elections, how would you describe your level of enthusiasm about voting in the 2012 presidential election next year - are you more enthusiastic than usual, less enthusiastic, or about the same as usual? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom More 30% 43% 27% 27% 32% 28% Less 28 18 30 33 25 31 About the same 40 38 43 39 41 39 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 2 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore More 22% 30% 30% 34% 34% Less 28 29 29 26 29 About the same 48 40 40 39 35 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 2 6. Is your opinion of - Mitt Romney favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 35% 61% 18% 36% 39% 32% Unfavorable 31 12 47 31 33 30 Hvn't hrd enough 32 26 35 32 27 36 REFUSED 1 - 1 2 1 2 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Favorable 30% 33% 39% 34% 42% Unfavorable 32 34 32 33 26 Hvn't hrd enough 37 32 25 32 31 REFUSED 1 2 3 - 1 TREND: Is your opinion of Mitt Romney favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? Oct 13 Sep 26 Jul 5 Apr 19 Jan 25 2011 2007 2007 2007 2007 Favorable 35 22 16 16 11 Unfavorable 31 27 20 16 12 Hvn't hrd enough 32 49 63 65 76 REFUSED 1 2 2 3 1 7. Is your opinion of - Barack Obama favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 47% 11% 83% 40% 42% 52% Unfavorable 47 84 12 54 54 39 Hvn't hrd enough 3 2 3 2 2 4 REFUSED 4 3 2 4 2 5 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Favorable 61% 51% 44% 50% 31% Unfavorable 31 45 49 43 62 Hvn't hrd enough 2 2 2 3 4 REFUSED 6 1 6 4 3 TREND: Is your opinion of Barack Obama favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? FAVORABLE..... High Low Oct 13 Nov 19 Jun 12 Feb 21 Sep 26 Nov 19 Jan 25 2011 2008 2008 2008 2007 2008 2007 Favorable 47 64 56 58 50 64 41 Unfavorable 47 21 32 21 23 21 9 Hvn't hrd enough 3 11 11 19 25 11 49 REFUSED 4 4 2 3 2 4 1 8. Is your opinion of - Herman Cain favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 25% 46% 8% 27% 29% 21% Unfavorable 20 4 38 16 19 21 Hvn't hrd enough 54 50 53 56 51 58 REFUSED 1 - 1 1 1 - Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Favorable 20% 24% 28% 19% 33% Unfavorable 25 21 22 20 14 Hvn't hrd enough 55 55 49 61 51 REFUSED - 1 1 - 1 9. Is your opinion of - Rick Perry favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 19% 39% 5% 19% 25% 13% Unfavorable 39 12 61 40 39 39 Hvn't hrd enough 41 48 33 41 35 47 REFUSED 1 1 1 - 1 1 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Favorable 8% 19% 22% 22% 21% Unfavorable 44 42 44 34 31 Hvn't hrd enough 45 38 33 44 46 REFUSED 3 1 1 - 2 15. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Robert Menendez is handling his job as United States Senator? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 42% 23% 63% 37% 43% 40% Disapprove 35 56 13 43 40 31 DK/NA 23 21 24 20 17 29 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 46% 45% 40% 40% 36% Disapprove 25 35 35 36 43 DK/NA 29 19 25 25 21 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Robert Menendez is handling his job as United States Senator? APPROVE....... High Low Oct 13 Aug 17 Jun 21 Apr 20 Feb 09 Jun 21 Feb 20 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2008 Approve 42 39 45 42 44 45 30 Disapprove 35 42 38 40 36 38 31 DK/NA 23 19 18 18 20 18 39 16. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Frank Lautenberg is handling his job as United States Senator? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 46% 27% 63% 45% 47% 45% Disapprove 37 56 17 43 41 33 DK/NA 17 17 20 12 12 22 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 56% 48% 43% 45% 39% Disapprove 24 38 38 35 46 DK/NA 20 14 19 20 15 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 Oct 13 Aug 17 Jun 21 Apr 20 Feb 09 Jul 27 Feb 20 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2000* 2008 Approve 46 43 46 44 45 55 39 Disapprove 37 45 40 42 40 22 31 DK/NA 17 12 14 14 15 23 29 17. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 43% 10% 77% 34% 36% 50% Disapprove 52 88 19 60 60 45 DK/NA 5 2 4 6 4 5 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 54% 45% 39% 51% 29% Disapprove 38 51 56 45 67 DK/NA 8 4 5 4 4 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? APPROVE....... High Low Oct 13 Aug 17 Jun 21 Apr 20 Feb 09 Jun 10 Oct 13 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2009 2011 Approve 43 44 50 51 55 68 43 Disapprove 52 52 46 45 41 25 52 DK/NA 5 4 4 4 4 7 5 20. 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 Yes/Deserves 47% 12% 86% 37% 40% 54% No/Does not 48 86 12 55 56 40 DK/NA 5 2 2 8 5 6 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes/Deserves 59% 48% 46% 55% 32% No/Does not 33 47 50 39 65 DK/NA 7 6 4 6 4 TREND: Do you feel that Barack Obama deserves to be reelected, or do you feel that he does not deserve to be reelected? Oct 13 Aug 17 2011 2011 Yes/Deserves 47 45 No/Does not 48 49 DK/NA 5 6 21. 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 Menendez 43% 5% 85% 35% 42% 45% Republican 39 84 5 42 44 34 DEPENDS ON CAND(VOL) 7 5 5 10 6 8 DK/NA 11 6 4 13 8 13 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Menendez 60% 46% 43% 38% 32% Republican 22 35 43 42 51 DEPENDS ON CAND(VOL) 6 8 7 7 8 DK/NA 12 11 8 13 10 TREND: 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? Oct 13 Aug 17 2011 2011 Menendez 43 45 Republican 39 39 DEPENDS ON CAND(VOL) 7 6 DK/NA 11 10 22. 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 Yes/Deserves 40% 12% 72% 35% 38% 42% No/Does not 38 66 11 45 44 33 DK/NA 21 22 17 21 17 25 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes/Deserves 49% 41% 39% 39% 34% No/Does not 30 40 38 36 44 DK/NA 20 19 23 24 22 TREND: Do you feel that Robert Menendez deserves to be reelected, or do you feel that he does not deserve to be reelected? Oct 13 Aug 17 2011 2011 Yes/Deserves 40 41 No/Does not 38 43 DK/NA 21 16 39. Is your opinion of the MTV show Jersey Shore favorable, unfavorable, or haven't you heard enough about it? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 9% 10% 12% 7% 12% 7% Unfavorable 69 70 67 73 65 72 Hvn't hrd enough 20 17 20 17 21 18 REFUSED 2 3 1 3 2 2 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Favorable 8% 15% 5% 9% 4% Unfavorable 64 61 82 65 76 Hvn't hrd enough 27 21 11 22 16 REFUSED 2 3 1 3 3 AGE IN YEARS..... 18-34 35-54 55+ Favorable 20% 8% 6% Unfavorable 67 79 61 Hvn't hrd enough 12 11 30 REFUSED 2 1 3 TREND: Is your opinion of the MTV show Jersey Shore favorable, unfavorable, or haven't you heard enough about it? Oct 13 Aug 24 2011 2010 Favorable 9 11 Unfavorable 69 51 Hvn't hrd enough 20 35 REFUSED 2 2 40. Do you think the MTV show Jersey Shore is good or bad for New Jersey? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Good 16% 14% 20% 16% 20% 13% Bad 67 71 66 68 61 73 DK/NA 17 15 14 16 19 14 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Good 16% 22% 8% 9% 21% Bad 60 61 79 73 66 DK/NA 24 17 13 17 13 18-34 35-54 55+ Good 26% 16% 12% Bad 67 73 62 DK/NA 6 11 25 TREND: Do you think the MTV show Jersey Shore is good or bad for New Jersey? Oct 13 Aug 24 2011 2010 Good 16 20 Bad 67 54 DK/NA 17 26 41. As you may know, Governor Christie recently blocked a tax credit for the makers of "Jersey Shore". Do you think Governor Christie did the right thing or the wrong thing? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Right thing 71% 81% 64% 74% 72% 71% Wrong thing 20 12 27 19 20 19 DK/NA 9 7 9 7 8 10 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Right thing 70% 65% 76% 79% 71% Wrong thing 19 25 18 14 19 DK/NA 10 10 6 7 10 AGE IN YEARS..... 18-34 35-54 55+ Right thing 71% 75% 68% Wrong thing 25 18 20 DK/NA 5 7 13 42. Governor Christie said he was "duty-bound" to see that taxpayers were "not footing a $420,000 bill" for a project which he says "does nothing more than perpetuate misconceptions about the state and its citizens." Do you agree or disagree with Governor Christie's reasoning? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Agree 78% 87% 70% 78% 76% 79% Disagree 17 9 24 18 19 16 DK/NA 5 4 6 4 5 5 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Agree 75% 74% 81% 80% 80% Disagree 18 22 17 10 15 DK/NA 7 4 2 10 4 AGE IN YEARS..... 18-34 35-54 55+ Agree 80% 78% 76% Disagree 15 20 17 DK/NA 5 3 7 43. Do you consider yourself part of the Tea Party movement or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 12% 25% 4% 13% 15% 9% No 84 71 93 85 83 86 DK/NA 3 4 3 2 2 5 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes 9% 13% 13% 10% 15% No 84 83 84 89 82 DK/NA 7 4 3 1 3 Demographic Summary
