May 17, 2012 - Big Age Gap On Gay Marriage In New Jersey, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters Back Gov's Private School Scholarship Plan 3-1 Word format New Jersey voters support same-sex marriage 53 - 42 percent, and support 67 - 27 percent, with strong support from all groups, Gov. Christopher Christie's call for a voter referendum on the issue, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Voters under 35 years old support gay marriage 77 - 18 percent, as voters 35 to 54 years old support it 58 - 39 percent. Voters over 55 are opposed 53 - 41 percent. President Barack Obama's recent endorsement of same-sex marriage will not affect their presidential vote, 64 percent of New Jersey voters tell the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh- pe-ack) University poll. His support for gay marriage will make them less likely to vote for Obama, 19 percent say, while 16 percent say more likely. Gay marriage support is 69 - 28 percent among Democrats and 55 - 38 percent among independent voters. Republicans are opposed 65 - 30 percent. New Jersey voters say by a small 48 - 44 percent margin that Gov. Christie did the wrong thing vetoing same-sex marriage legislation. The State Legislature should override Christie's veto, 48 percent of voters say, while 45 percent do not want an override. "New Jersey voters approved of same-sex marriage before President Barack Obama evolved, and they still do," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "That 4-1 support among young voters shows this is just a matter of time. "New Jerseyans like Gov. Christopher Christie and are divided on whether his veto of the same-sex marriage bill was right or wrong. And they're divided on whether the State Legislative should override the veto. "But voters overwhelmingly endorse Christie's idea of putting it up to a referendum. "What was the political effect of President Obama's decision? Little or none." New Jersey voters support 73 - 20 percent Gov. Christie's proposal to give private school scholarships, funded by tax-deductible contributions, to allow students in troubled public schools to attend private and parochial schools. Support is strong among all groups. While they support Christie's scholarship plan, which uses private contributions, voters oppose by a narrow 49 - 44 percent margin taxpayer-supported school vouchers for students in private or religious schools. Voters oppose 53 - 36 percent the expansion of charter schools. There is no support for more charter schools from any group. Tax Cut Plans New Jersey voters support 54 - 32 percent Christie's plan for a 10 percent across-the- board income tax cut. Support rises from 48 - 34 percent among voters making less than $50,000 per year to 65 - 29 percent among voters making more than $250,000 per year. By an even wider 59 - 23 percent margin, voters support State Senate President Stephen Sweeney's proposal for a 10 percent property tax credit for households with an annual income of under $250,000. All groups, even voters making more than $250,000, support the measure. The survey, completed before reports of a compromise between Christie and Sweeney, shows voters prefer the property tax credit to the income tax cut 50 - 38 percent. Voters making more than $250,000 favor the income tax cut 61 - 27 percent. Republicans back the income tax cut 55 - 34 percent while Democrats favor the property tax credit 65 - 22 percent. Independent voters back the property tax credit 47 - 41 percent. New Jersey voters disagree 50 - 46 percent with Christie's opposition to a so-called millionaires' tax. "Senate President Stephen Sweeney looks like he comes out ahead in Trenton horse- trading, but Gov. Christie gets points for agreeing to compromise," Carroll said. "The Gov says he'll make education, including that proposed scholarship plan for some private and parochial school students, his budget-time priority. Voters endorse the scholarship idea. They also support merit pay and re-writing teacher tenure rules." From May 9 - 14, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,582 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.5 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. 21. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christopher Christie is handling the state budget? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 54% 82% 27% 59% 59% 50% 59% 27% Disapprove 38 10 63 35 35 41 35 67 DK/NA 8 8 10 6 6 9 7 6 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME Union HAVE KIDS.... <50K 50-100 100-250 >250 HsHlds <18 PubSch Approve 47% 56% 56% 77% 44% 59% 56% Disapprove 40 40 41 22 52 36 40 DK/NA 13 3 3 1 5 4 4 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 41% 53% 62% 47% 64% Disapprove 49 39 32 46 28 DK/NA 10 8 6 7 8 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christopher Christie is handling the state budget? APPROVE....... High Low May 17 Apr 11 Feb 29 Jan 18 Nov 17 Apr 11 Jun 17 2012 2012 2012 2012 2011 2012 2010 Approve 54 58 55 52 54 58 45 Disapprove 38 35 38 42 39 35 49 DK/NA 8 7 7 6 7 7 6 22. Have you heard or read anything about Governor Christie's recent proposal for a 10 percent across-the-board income tax cut? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 54% 60% 48% 57% 59% 49% 56% 48% No 44 37 50 42 39 49 42 50 DK/NA 2 3 2 1 2 2 2 2 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME Union HAVE KIDS.... <50K 50-100 100-250 >250 HsHlds <18 PubSch Yes 47% 58% 60% 58% 55% 54% 52% No 50 40 39 42 44 46 47 DK/NA 3 1 1 - 1 - - Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes 53% 51% 60% 54% 53% No 44 46 40 45 44 DK/NA 3 2 - 1 3 TREND: Have you heard or read anything about Governor Christie's recent proposal for a 10 percent across-the-board income tax cut? May 17 Apr 11 Feb 29 2012 2012 2012 Yes 54 59 76 No 44 38 23 DK/NA 2 2 1 23. Do you support or oppose Governor Christie's proposal for a 10 percent across-the-board income tax cut? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 54% 78% 36% 56% 55% 53% 57% 39% Oppose 32 11 47 32 34 31 30 47 DK/NA 14 11 17 12 11 16 14 14 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME Union HAVE KIDS.... <50K 50-100 100-250 >250 HsHlds <18 PubSch Support 48% 61% 57% 65% 50% 58% 58% Oppose 34 30 32 29 36 32 30 DK/NA 19 9 12 6 14 10 11 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Support 46% 54% 62% 53% 55% Oppose 44 31 25 32 32 DK/NA 10 15 12 14 13 TREND: Do you support or oppose Governor Christie's proposal for a 10 percent across-the-board income tax cut? May 17 Apr 11 Feb 29 2012 2012 2012 Support 54 54 56 Oppose 32 32 33 DK/NA 14 13 11 24. Have you heard or read anything about State Senate President Steve Sweeney's recent proposal for a 10 percent property tax credit for households with an income of $250,000 or less? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 31% 34% 29% 32% 37% 26% 33% 32% No 65 60 69 65 60 70 64 68 DK/NA 3 6 3 3 3 4 3 1 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME Union HAVE KIDS.... <50K 50-100 100-250 >250 HsHlds <18 PubSch Yes 27% 33% 36% 38% 34% 32% 32% No 69 64 62 58 62 67 66 DK/NA 4 3 1 4 4 1 1 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes 24% 31% 30% 37% 31% No 73 66 67 59 65 DK/NA 4 3 3 4 4 TREND: Have you heard or read anything about State Senate President Steve Sweeney's recent proposal for a 10 percent property tax credit for households with an income of $250,000 or less? May 17 Apr 11 2012 2012 Yes 31 35 No 65 62 DK/NA 3 2 25. Do you support or oppose State Senate President Steve Sweeney's proposal for a property tax credit of 10 percent for households with an income of $250,000 or less? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 59% 53% 62% 60% 57% 61% 58% 58% Oppose 23 25 19 25 25 21 24 24 DK/NA 18 22 19 14 18 18 18 18 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME Union HAVE KIDS.... <50K 50-100 100-250 >250 HsHlds <18 PubSch Support 59% 62% 63% 52% 59% 62% 68% Oppose 20 24 22 32 25 23 20 DK/NA 21 15 15 16 16 15 13 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Support 51% 65% 52% 60% 58% Oppose 27 16 32 23 24 DK/NA 22 19 15 17 18 TREND: Do you support or oppose State Senate President Steve Sweeney's proposal for a property tax credit of 10 percent for households with an income of $250,000 or less? May 17 Apr 11 2012 2012 Support 59 57 Oppose 23 24 DK/NA 18 19 26. In general, which tax plan do you think is better for New Jersey, an across-the-board income tax cut of 10 percent or a property tax credit of 10 percent for households earning less than $250,000? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Income tax cut 38% 55% 22% 41% 42% 34% 41% 29% Prop tax credit 50 34 65 47 48 51 46 63 DK/NA 13 11 13 12 10 15 13 8 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME Union HAVE KIDS.... <50K 50-100 100-250 >250 HsHlds <18 PubSch Income tax cut 34% 42% 38% 61% 36% 41% 40% Prop tax credit 50 51 54 27 55 48 50 DK/NA 16 8 8 12 9 11 9 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Income tax cut 33% 35% 43% 42% 37% Prop tax credit 52 54 44 46 49 DK/NA 16 12 12 11 14 TREND: In general, which tax plan do you think is better for New Jersey, an across-the-board income tax cut of 10 percent or a property tax credit of 10 percent for households earning less than $250,000? May 17 Apr 11 2012 2012 Income tax cut 38 38 Prop tax credit 50 49 DK/NA 13 13 27. Governor Christie has said that he will not support a millionaires tax because he does not want to raise taxes on anyone in New Jersey. Do you agree or disagree with Christie's position? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Agree 46% 73% 25% 47% 49% 44% 50% 18% Disagree 50 23 70 50 48 51 46 74 DK/NA 4 4 5 3 3 5 4 8 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME Union HAVE KIDS.... <50K 50-100 100-250 >250 HsHlds <18 PubSch Agree 44% 48% 48% 61% 39% 51% 48% Disagree 50 51 49 36 57 46 49 DK/NA 6 1 3 3 4 3 3 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Agree 35% 44% 50% 45% 55% Disagree 63 51 47 49 43 DK/NA 2 5 3 6 2 TREND: Governor Christie has said that he will not support a millionaires tax because he does not want to raise taxes on anyone in New Jersey. Do you agree or disagree with Christie's position? May 17 Apr 11 2012 2012 Agree 46 50 Disagree 50 47 DK/NA 4 4 28. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christopher Christie is handling education? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 48% 74% 24% 52% 50% 46% 53% 24% Disapprove 41 15 65 39 40 43 37 68 DK/NA 11 11 11 10 10 12 10 9 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME Union HAVE KIDS.... <50K 50-100 100-250 >250 HsHlds <18 PubSch Approve 41% 52% 50% 63% 42% 50% 47% Disapprove 44 42 43 30 53 42 44 DK/NA 15 7 7 7 5 8 9 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 41% 45% 55% 44% 56% Disapprove 50 43 34 46 34 DK/NA 8 12 11 10 10 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christopher Christie is handling education? May 17 Mar 01 Aug 17 Jun 21 Apr 21 Feb 10 Dec 21 2012 2012 2011 2011 2011 2011 2010 Approve 48 50 44 41 44 47 45 Disapprove 41 43 52 55 52 48 49 DK/NA 11 7 5 4 4 5 6 29. Is your opinion of New Jersey's public school teachers favorable, unfavorable, or haven't you heard enough about them? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Favorable 59% 52% 68% 58% 58% 60% 61% 58% Unfavorable 22 29 11 24 24 20 23 10 Hvn't hrd enough 16 15 19 16 16 16 14 27 REFUSED 3 4 2 3 2 3 2 4 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME Union HAVE KIDS.... <50K 50-100 100-250 >250 HsHlds <18 PubSch Favorable 48% 64% 71% 58% 70% 61% 62% Unfavorable 23 21 20 29 17 25 26 Hvn't hrd enough 25 12 8 9 11 12 10 REFUSED 4 3 1 5 2 2 1 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Favorable 58% 59% 57% 62% 58% Unfavorable 17 21 23 21 26 Hvn't hrd enough 18 18 16 14 14 REFUSED 7 2 3 3 2 TREND: Is your opinion of New Jersey's public school teachers favorable, unfavorable, or haven't you heard enough about them? (* Low also 56% Jun 2010) FAVORABLE..... High Low May 17 Mar 01 Jan 19 Apr 21 Feb 10 Apr 21 Nov 11 2012 2012 2012 2011 2011 2011 2010* Favorable 59 57 57 64 62 64 56 Unfavorable 22 25 23 16 17 16 24 Hvn't hrd enough 16 14 17 17 18 17 19 REFUSED 3 4 3 3 3 3 1 30. Is your opinion of the state's largest teachers' union, the New Jersey Education Association, favorable, unfavorable, or haven't you heard enough about it? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Favorable 27% 13% 42% 25% 26% 28% 25% 41% Unfavorable 46 72 21 51 52 40 52 14 Hvn't hrd enough 25 15 36 23 20 30 22 43 REFUSED 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 2 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME Union HAVE KIDS.... <50K 50-100 100-250 >250 HsHlds <18 PubSch Favorable 30% 28% 26% 21% 43% 25% 28% Unfavorable 36 52 54 57 41 49 46 Hvn't hrd enough 33 19 19 21 16 25 25 REFUSED 2 1 1 - 1 1 1 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Favorable 28% 33% 21% 26% 24% Unfavorable 38 40 55 47 54 Hvn't hrd enough 30 28 23 25 20 REFUSED 3 - 2 2 2 TREND: Is your opinion of the state's largest teachers union, the New Jersey Education Association, favorable, unfavorable, or haven't you heard enough about it? FAVORABLE..... High Low May 17 Mar 01 Jan 19 Apr 21 Feb 10 Mar 01 Nov 11 2012 2012 2012 2011 2011 2012 2010 Favorable 27 31 29 30 27 31 21 Unfavorable 46 46 44 45 44 46 46 Hvn't hrd enough 25 22 25 24 28 22 32 REFUSED 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 31. Some people say that public school teachers who do an outstanding job should be rewarded with additional pay, so called merit pay. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Good idea 70% 73% 71% 69% 73% 67% 68% 83% Bad idea 24 22 23 25 23 25 27 15 DK/NA 6 5 6 5 3 7 6 2 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME Union HAVE KIDS.... <50K 50-100 100-250 >250 HsHlds <18 PubSch Good idea 69% 73% 68% 81% 59% 75% 74% Bad idea 25 24 27 18 36 23 24 DK/NA 6 3 5 1 5 2 2 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Good idea 80% 71% 80% 60% 66% Bad idea 18 24 15 31 29 DK/NA 2 5 5 9 5 TREND: Some people say that public school teachers who do an outstanding job should be rewarded with additional pay, so called merit pay. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? May 17 Mar 01 Jan 19 Apr 21 Feb 10 Nov 11 Jan 21 2012 2012 2012 2011 2011 2010 2010 Good idea 70 72 66 69 68 67 66 Bad idea 24 24 30 27 27 28 31 DK/NA 6 4 5 4 4 5 3 32. Governor Christie wants to limit teacher tenure. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Good idea 60% 77% 42% 64% 64% 56% 65% 23% Bad idea 31 18 46 26 30 32 27 65 DK/NA 9 5 12 10 6 12 8 12 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME Union HAVE KIDS.... <50K 50-100 100-250 >250 HsHlds <18 PubSch Good idea 51% 67% 68% 75% 49% 67% 66% Bad idea 38 26 28 21 44 30 31 DK/NA 11 7 4 5 8 3 3 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Good idea 49% 60% 74% 54% 61% Bad idea 38 31 20 35 30 DK/NA 13 9 6 11 8 TREND: Governor Christie wants to limit teacher tenure. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? May 17 Mar 01 Jan 19 Apr 21 Feb 10 2012 2012 2012 2011 2011 Good idea 60 60 59 62 62 Bad idea 31 32 33 32 30 DK/NA 9 8 8 6 7 33. Do you favor or oppose providing parents with tax money in the form of school vouchers to help pay for their children to attend private or religious schools? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Favor 44% 53% 36% 46% 47% 42% 44% 51% Oppose 49 41 57 48 48 50 50 42 DK/NA 6 6 7 6 5 8 6 8 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME Union HAVE KIDS.... <50K 50-100 100-250 >250 HsHlds <18 PubSch Favor 47% 47% 35% 48% 37% 49% 44% Oppose 44 49 61 49 58 48 53 DK/NA 9 4 4 3 6 3 3 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Favor 40% 43% 42% 50% 45% Oppose 51 51 53 43 49 DK/NA 9 6 5 7 6 TREND: Do you favor or oppose providing parents with tax money in the form of school vouchers to help pay for their children to attend private or religious schools? May 17 Mar 01 Jan 19 Apr 21 Feb 10 Nov 24 Jul 03 2012 2012 2012 2011 2011 2009 2001 Favor 44 44 44 39 43 43 50 Oppose 49 50 49 56 52 54 43 DK/NA 6 6 7 6 5 3 7 34. As you may know, charter schools are operated by private or non-profit organizations. The schools are paid for with tax dollars. Do you think there should be an expansion of charter schools in New Jersey or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 36% 40% 28% 40% 39% 34% 36% 40% No 53 46 62 50 53 53 54 52 DK/NA 11 14 10 10 8 14 11 8 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME Union HAVE KIDS.... <50K 50-100 100-250 >250 HsHlds <18 PubSch Yes 37% 38% 36% 45% 30% 42% 41% No 49 56 58 47 65 50 52 DK/NA 15 6 5 9 5 8 6 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes 39% 35% 32% 36% 40% No 49 53 57 55 49 DK/NA 12 12 10 9 11 TREND: As you may know, charter schools are operated by private or non-profit organizations. The schools are paid for with tax dollars. Do you think there should be an expansion of charter schools in New Jersey or not? May 17 Mar 01 Jan 19 Apr 21 Feb 10 Jan 21 Nov 24 2012 2012 2012 2011 2011 2010 2009 Yes 36 41 41 36 41 40 38 No 53 52 51 56 50 52 55 DK/NA 11 7 8 8 8 8 7 35. Governor Christie wants the Legislature to pass a bill that would give private and parochial school scholarships to students in some troubled districts across the state. The scholarships would be funded by tax deductible donations from businesses and are considered budget neutral. Do you support or oppose this bill? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 73% 80% 66% 76% 72% 75% 73% 75% Oppose 20 14 25 18 21 18 19 22 DK/NA 7 5 9 7 7 7 8 3 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME Union HAVE KIDS.... <50K 50-100 100-250 >250 HsHlds <18 PubSch Support 73% 79% 70% 73% 72% 74% 71% Oppose 19 15 26 25 23 21 24 DK/NA 8 6 4 3 6 5 5 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Support 78% 73% 73% 75% 69% Oppose 15 21 20 16 22 DK/NA 7 6 8 8 9 36. Would you support or oppose a law that would allow same-sex couples to get married? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 53% 30% 69% 55% 49% 57% 57% 51% Oppose 42 65 28 38 45 38 38 46 DK/NA 5 5 3 7 5 5 6 3 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YEARS..... WHITE...... Yes No 18-34 35-54 55+ Prot Cath Prot Cath Support 64% 47% 77% 58% 41% 46% 50% 46% 49% Oppose 32 48 18 39 53 48 44 50 46 DK/NA 4 6 5 4 6 6 5 5 5 TREND: Would you support or oppose a law that would allow same-sex couples to get married? May 17 Mar 01 Jan 19 Nov 25 Apr 23 Dec 7 Nov 8 2012 2012 2012 2009 2009 2006 2006 Support 53 57 52 46 49 44 41 Oppose 42 37 42 49 43 50 50 DK/NA 5 6 6 6 8 5 9 37. Do you think same-sex couples should be allowed legally to marry, should be allowed legally to form civil unions but not marry, or should not be allowed to obtain legal recognition of their relationships? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Marry 48% 26% 65% 49% 46% 51% 51% 43% Civil unions 32 49 15 34 36 28 34 17 No recognition 15 21 14 13 15 16 11 29 DK/NA 5 5 6 4 4 5 4 11 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YEARS..... WHITE...... Yes No 18-34 35-54 55+ Prot Cath Prot Cath Marry 58% 42% 72% 50% 38% 42% 44% 40% 43% Civil unions 30 33 20 29 38 35 40 29 40 No recognition 8 20 4 17 18 18 12 25 13 DK/NA 4 6 3 4 6 5 4 6 5 TREND: Do you think same-sex couples should be allowed legally to marry, should be allowed legally to form civil unions but not marry, or should not be allowed to obtain legal recognition of their relationships? May 17 Mar 01 Apr 23 2012 2012 2009 Marry 48 47 42 Civil unions 32 34 30 No recognition 15 13 20 DK/NA 5 6 8 38. As you may know Governor Christie has vetoed a same-sex marriage bill passed by the state legislature. Do you think Governor Christie did the right thing or the wrong thing? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Right thing 44% 70% 26% 43% 49% 41% 43% 48% Wrong thing 48 25 67 48 44 51 50 45 DK/NA 7 4 6 9 7 8 7 7 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YEARS..... WHITE...... Yes No 18-34 35-54 55+ Prot Cath Prot Cath Right thing 38% 49% 29% 40% 54% 53% 49% 51% 49% Wrong thing 56 43 64 51 39 40 44 41 44 DK/NA 6 8 7 8 7 7 7 8 7 TREND: As you may know Governor Christie has vetoed a same-sex marriage bill passed by the state legislature. Do you think Governor Christie did the right thing or the wrong thing? (* "recently vetoed") May 17 Mar 01 2012 2012 Right thing 44 48 Wrong thing 48 47 DK/NA 7 5 39. Do you think the New Jersey state legislature should vote to override Christie's veto or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 48% 23% 68% 49% 45% 51% 49% 49% No 45 72 25 43 48 42 45 44 DK/NA 7 4 7 9 7 7 6 8 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YEARS..... WHITE...... Yes No 18-34 35-54 55+ Prot Cath Prot Cath Yes 57% 43% 67% 50% 40% 40% 42% 41% 42% No 38 50 28 44 52 54 51 50 50 DK/NA 5 8 5 6 8 6 7 9 8 40. Governor Christie says he is prepared to strengthen the state's civil union law. Do you think that is a good idea or bad idea? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Good idea 56% 65% 50% 55% 56% 56% 57% 47% Bad idea 25 16 32 24 26 23 23 37 DK/NA 20 19 18 21 18 21 20 15 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YEARS..... WHITE...... Yes No 18-34 35-54 55+ Prot Cath Prot Cath Good idea 60% 53% 51% 57% 57% 58% 61% 53% 59% Bad idea 22 27 27 26 23 21 20 27 19 DK/NA 18 21 22 17 21 21 19 20 22 TREND: Governor Christie says he is prepared to strengthen the state's civil union law. Do you think that is a good idea or bad idea? May 17 Mar 01 2012 2012 Good idea 56 58 Bad idea 25 25 DK/NA 20 17 41. Governor Christie thinks New Jersey voters should decide the issue of same-sex marriage in a referendum in November. Do you think that is a good idea or a bad idea? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Good idea 67% 76% 57% 71% 68% 66% 70% 58% Bad idea 27 18 38 24 27 27 25 33 DK/NA 6 6 5 5 4 7 5 8 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YEARS..... WHITE...... Yes No 18-34 35-54 55+ Prot Cath Prot Cath Good idea 67% 67% 72% 68% 65% 70% 76% 65% 74% Bad idea 28 26 22 27 29 23 20 27 21 DK/NA 4 7 6 5 6 8 4 8 6 TREND: Governor Christie thinks New Jersey voters should decide the issue of same-sex marriage in a referendum in November. Do you think that is a good idea or a bad idea? May 17 Mar 01 2012 2012 Good idea 67 67 Bad idea 27 28 DK/NA 6 5 42. Does Barack Obama's support of same-sex marriage make you more likely to vote for him for President, less likely to vote for him for President, or doesn't it make a difference? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk More likely 16% 4% 28% 12% 14% 18% 17% 15% Less likely 19 37 8 17 22 16 19 9 No difference 64 57 63 71 64 65 63 75 DK/NA 1 2 1 - 1 2 1 1 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YEARS..... WHITE...... Yes No 18-34 35-54 55+ Prot Cath Prot Cath More likely 19% 14% 28% 18% 9% 9% 12% 9% 14% Less likely 14 22 9 18 25 27 20 24 21 No difference 67 63 62 64 65 63 66 66 64 DK/NA - 1 - - 1 1 2 1 1 Demographic Summary
