September 5, 2012 - New Jersey Gov. Christie Gets No GOP Convention Bounce, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters Most Biased Against Atheists, Muslims Word format While 58 percent of New Jersey voters watched Gov. Christopher Christie' keynote speech at the Republican National Convention, only 22 percent of voters say it makes them think more favorably of the governor, whose 53 - 42 percent job approval rating is barely changed, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. This compares to a 54 - 39 percent job approval in a July 17 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University. In today's survey, men approve of Christie 62 - 34 percent while women are divided with 46 percent approving and 49 percent disapproving. Approval is 87 - 11 percent among Republicans and 57 - 35 percent among independent voters. Democrats disapprove 74 - 22 percent. There is a wide racial gap as white voters approve 60 - 36 percent while black voters disapprove 67 - 24 percent. Watching Christie's convention speech were 70 percent of Republican voters, 48 percent of Democrats and 58 percent of independent voters. Among all voters, 22 percent think more favorably of Christie while 18 percent think less favorably and 54 percent say the speech did not affect their opinion. "If Gov. Christopher Christie's speech marked the opening of a 2016 presidential campaign he might want to try again. People who like the governor liked the speech; those who don't didn't. The net result - zero," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Gov. Christie gets OK job-approval numbers overall and a solid plus among men, but he needs to do more work to win women. The racial gap is huge," Carroll added. Overwhelming majorities of New Jersey voters say they would not vote against a candidate because of the candidate's religion or other qualities, but 39 percent say they are less likely to vote for an atheist and 30 percent are less likely to vote for a Muslim. Other biases are: 17 percent are less likely to vote for a born-again Christian; 15 percent are less likely to vote for an overweight or obese person; 12 percent are less likely to vote for a Mormon; 11 percent are less likely to vote for a gay or lesbian; 3 percent are less likely to vote for a woman; 1 percent is less likely to vote for an African American. "Of course politics mixes into Quinnipiac University's bias thermometer. Democrats in general are more open-minded than Republicans, but there are obvious exceptions. For example, 17 percent of Democrats and 4 percent of Republicans say they are less likely to vote for a Mormon and 18 percent of Democrats and 8 percent of Republicans are less likely to vote for someone who is overweight or obese," Carroll said. "Looking ahead to the state vote in 2013, only 3 percent would be less likely to vote for a woman, such as State Sen. Barbara Buono, and only 1 percent is less likely to vote for an African-American like Mayor Corey Booker." In an early look at the 2013 governor's race, Christie leads Newark Mayor Corey Booker 47 - 40 percent. The governor leads 85 - 7 percent among Republicans and 51 - 35 percent among independent voters while Democrats go to Booker 72 - 13 percent. Men back Christie 55 - 36 percent while women back Booker by a narrow 44 - 40 percent. White voters go Republican 55 - 35 percent while black voters go Democratic 64 - 15 percent. Christie gets a 52 - 42 percent favorability rating from New Jersey voters, while Booker gets a 49 - 11 percent favorability, with 38 percent who haven't heard enough about him to form an opinion. From August 27 - September 2, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,560 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. 7. If the election for Governor were being held today, and the candidates were Cory Booker the Democrat and Christopher Christie the Republican, for whom would you vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Booker 40% 7% 72% 35% 36% 44% 35% 64% Christie 47 85 13 51 55 40 55 15 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 - 1 - 2 1 3 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 1 2 - - 2 - 2 DK/NA 11 6 12 12 9 12 9 16 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Booker 50% 42% 31% 44% 32% Christie 32 44 57 45 59 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 1 - 1 2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 3 1 - - - DK/NA 14 11 11 10 6 8. Is your opinion of Christopher Christie favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Favorable 52% 86% 21% 58% 60% 46% 58% 21% Unfavorable 42 12 70 37 37 47 37 69 Hvn't hrd enough 4 1 7 2 3 5 3 3 REFUSED 2 1 2 2 1 3 2 6 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Favorable 35% 52% 64% 49% 61% Unfavorable 53 44 32 46 35 Hvn't hrd enough 7 4 3 2 3 REFUSED 4 1 2 3 1 TREND: Is your opinion of Christopher Christie favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? FAVORABLE..... High Low Sep 05 May 16 Jun 17 Jan 20 Nov 24 May 16 Aug 12 2012 2012 2010 2010 2009 2012 2008 Favorable 52 53 42 33 36 53 21 Unfavorable 42 39 40 27 25 39 7 Hvn't hrd enough 4 7 17 38 37 7 69 REFUSED 2 2 1 3 2 2 2 9. Is your opinion of Cory Booker favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Favorable 49% 38% 62% 48% 54% 45% 48% 65% Unfavorable 11 20 5 11 13 10 11 15 Hvn't hrd enough 38 41 32 40 31 44 40 18 REFUSED 1 2 1 2 2 1 1 3 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Favorable 62% 55% 50% 29% 48% Unfavorable 11 11 16 9 10 Hvn't hrd enough 26 33 34 58 41 REFUSED 1 1 1 3 1 10. 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 53% 87% 22% 57% 62% 46% 60% 24% Disapprove 42 11 74 35 34 49 36 67 DK/NA 5 2 4 8 4 5 5 9 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 44% 50% 65% 49% 61% Disapprove 46 47 32 44 35 DK/NA 10 3 2 7 3 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christopher Christie is handling his job as Governor? (*Low also 44% Jun 2010) APPROVE....... High Low Sep 05 Jul 17 May 16 Apr 11 Feb 29 Apr 11 Jun 21 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2011* Approve 53 54 57 59 55 59 44 Disapprove 42 39 38 36 38 36 47 DK/NA 5 7 6 5 7 5 10 11. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Stephen Sweeney is handling his job as State Senate President? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 26% 25% 25% 28% 31% 21% 25% 27% Disapprove 23 24 21 24 27 19 22 30 DK/NA 51 51 54 48 41 60 53 42 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Stephen Sweeney is handling his job as State Senate President? (* Low also 23% Oct 2011) APPROVE....... High Low Sep 05 Jul 17 May 16 Apr 11 Feb 29 Feb 29 Nov 16 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2011* Approve 26 27 25 27 28 28 23 Disapprove 23 24 25 27 26 26 28 DK/NA 51 48 49 46 46 46 50 12. 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% 15% 29% 20% 23% 22% 18% 42% Disapprove 16 21 11 19 23 10 17 12 DK/NA 61 63 60 61 54 68 66 46 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Sheila Oliver is handling her job as Assembly Speaker? (*High also 24% Jan 2012, Jun 2011, **Low also 19% Aug 2010, Nov 2010) APPROVE....... High Low Sep 05 Jul 17 May 16 Apr 11 Feb 29 Feb 29 Nov 16 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012* 2011** Approve 22 22 20 23 24 24 19 Disapprove 16 19 19 19 20 20 21 DK/NA 61 59 61 58 57 57 60 14. 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 44% 20% 67% 41% 44% 43% 40% 58% Disapprove 36 62 13 39 43 29 40 21 DK/NA 20 19 21 21 13 27 20 20 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Frank Lautenberg is handling his job as United States Senator? (*High also 55% Sep 1999 & Jul 1999) APPROVE....... High Low Sep 05 Jul 18 May 16 Apr 12 Feb 29 Jul 27 Feb 20 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2000* 2008 Approve 44 44 46 46 49 55 39 Disapprove 36 36 34 34 36 22 31 DK/NA 20 20 20 20 15 23 29 16. 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 6% 11% 3% 5% 6% 6% 6% 1% Smwht satisfied 50 62 43 48 52 49 50 47 Smwht dissatisfied 30 17 38 31 29 31 29 38 Very dissatisfied 13 9 15 15 13 14 14 13 DK/NA 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 - Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Very satisfied 5% 4% 7% 5% 7% Smwht satisfied 46 52 52 49 51 Smwht dissatisfied 33 29 31 33 27 Very dissatisfied 14 14 10 13 14 DK/NA 3 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 Sep 05 Jul 17 May 16 Apr 11 Feb 29 Dec 26 Jun 17 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2000* 2010 Very satisfied 6 5 5 8 6 10 2 Smwht satisfied 50 43 47 45 44 61 22 Smwht dissatisfied 30 32 29 30 30 21 36 Very dissatisfied 13 19 18 16 20 7 39 DK/NA 1 1 - 1 1 1 1 Q48a. (Summary table for ques 48-55/More likely) If a candidate for public office is a/an -attribute- would that make you more likely to vote for that candidate, or less likely to vote for that candidate, or wouldn't it matter to your vote? (This table reports only those saying an attribute makes them more likely to vote for the candidate.) MORE LIKELY TO VOTER FOR CANDIDATE.................. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk (Attribute) Woman 10 5 15 10 7 13 9 12 Born-again Christn 7 8 10 5 7 7 5 24 African American 4 3 7 2 4 4 1 16 Atheist 3 - 4 4 6 1 4 2 Gay/Lesbian 2 2 2 2 3 1 2 3 Mormon 1 1 2 1 1 1 - 3 Muslim 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 Overweight/Obese 1 1 1 - 1 1 1 2 Q48b. (Summary table for ques 48-55/Less likely) If a candidate for public office is a/an -attribute- would that make you more likely to vote for that candidate, or less likely to vote for that candidate, or wouldn't it matter to your vote? (This table reports only those saying an attribute makes them less likely to vote for the candidate.) LESS LIKELY TO VOTER FOR CANDIDATE.................. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk (Attribute) Atheist 39 55 30 37 33 43 39 45 Muslim 30 47 17 31 30 30 33 17 Born-again Christn 17 7 23 17 18 15 20 4 Overweight/Obese 15 8 18 17 15 14 15 15 Mormon 12 4 17 11 13 11 10 20 Gay/Lesbian 11 22 6 10 13 10 12 8 Woman 3 3 2 3 3 2 3 - African American 1 4 - 2 2 1 2 - 48. If a candidate for public office is - a Mormon would that make you more likely to vote for that candidate, or less likely to vote for that candidate, or wouldn't it matter to your vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk More likely 1% 1% 2% 1% 1% 1% - 3% Less likely 12 4 17 11 13 11 10 20 Wouldn't matter 86 95 80 87 86 86 88 75 DK/NA 1 - 1 1 - 1 1 2 49. If a candidate for public office is - a woman would that make you more likely to vote for that candidate, or less likely to vote for that candidate, or wouldn't it matter to your vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk More likely 10% 5% 15% 10% 7% 13% 9% 12% Less likely 3 3 2 3 3 2 3 - Wouldn't matter 87 92 83 87 90 84 88 86 DK/NA 1 - 1 - - 1 - 2 50. If a candidate for public office is - an atheist would that make you more likely to vote for that candidate, or less likely to vote for that candidate, or wouldn't it matter to your vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk More likely 3% - 4% 4% 6% 1% 4% 2% Less likely 39 55 30 37 33 43 39 45 Wouldn't matter 57 44 65 57 59 54 56 49 DK/NA 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 4 51. If a candidate for public office is - a born-again Christian would that make you more likely to vote for that candidate, or less likely to vote for that candidate, or wouldn't it matter to your vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk More likely 7% 8% 10% 5% 7% 7% 5% 24% Less likely 17 7 23 17 18 15 20 4 Wouldn't matter 75 84 67 77 74 76 74 72 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 - 1 1 - 52. If a candidate for public office is - gay or lesbian would that make you more likely to vote for that candidate, or less likely to vote for that candidate, or wouldn't it matter to your vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk More likely 2% 2% 2% 2% 3% 1% 2% 3% Less likely 11 22 6 10 13 10 12 8 Wouldn't matter 85 75 91 88 82 88 86 86 DK/NA 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 53. If a candidate for public office is - a Muslim would that make you more likely to vote for that candidate, or less likely to vote for that candidate, or wouldn't it matter to your vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk More likely 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 2% Less likely 30 47 17 31 30 30 33 17 Wouldn't matter 66 50 81 65 66 67 63 79 DK/NA 3 2 1 3 2 3 3 2 54. If a candidate for public office is - very overweight or obese would that make you more likely to vote for that candidate, or less likely to vote for that candidate, or wouldn't it matter to your vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk More likely 1% 1% 1% - 1% 1% 1% 2% Less likely 15 8 18 17 15 14 15 15 Wouldn't matter 84 91 81 83 84 84 84 82 DK/NA - - 1 - - 1 1 1 55. If a candidate for public office is - an African American would that make you more likely to vote for that candidate, or less likely to vote for that candidate, or wouldn't it matter to your vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk More likely 4% 3% 7% 2% 4% 4% 1% 16% Less likely 1 4 - 2 2 1 2 - Wouldn't matter 94 94 93 96 94 95 97 83 DK/NA - - - 1 1 - - 1 56. (Post 8/28 speech) Did you watch Christopher Christie's televised speech at the Republican National Convention? WEDNESDAY THRU SUNDAY................. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 58% 70% 48% 58% 60% 55% No 42 30 52 42 39 45 DK/NA - 1 - - - - 57. (Post 8/28 speech) Based on what you've seen, heard, or read, did Christie's speech at the Republican National Convention make you think more favorably of the Republican party, less favorably of the Republican party, OR didn't it affect your opinion of the Republican party? WEDNESDAY THRU SUNDAY................. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom More favorably 19% 36% 6% 19% 24% 15% Less favorably 15 3 30 11 13 17 Not affect opinion 59 56 57 63 58 59 DK/NA 7 5 8 8 5 8 58. (Post 8/28 speech) Based on what you've seen, heard, or read, did Christie's speech at the Republican National Convention make you think more favorably of Christie, less favorably of Christie, OR didn't it affect your opinion of Christie? WEDNESDAY THRU SUNDAY................. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom More favorably 22% 39% 6% 21% 26% 19% Less favorably 18 4 33 16 17 19 Not affect opinion 54 55 54 56 52 56 DK/NA 5 2 7 7 5 6 Demographic Summary
