March 27, 2013 - Sandy Won't Change Their Vacation Plans, New Jersey Voters Tell Quinnipiac University Poll; Menendez Gets Small Bounce After Big Drop Word format PDF format New Jersey voters say 85 - 13 percent that they are not changing their summer vacation plans because of Hurricane Sandy, as 74 percent say the Garden State's recovery from Sandy is going "very well" or "somewhat well," according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Voters approve 85 - 10 percent of the way Gov. Christopher Christie is handling the recovery from Sandy, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Voter ratings of other agencies and insurance companies for handling of Sandy recovery are: 43 percent rate the Federal Emergency Management Agency "excellent" or "good," with 47 percent saying "not so good" or "poor;" 70 percent rate the state government "excellent" or "good," with 24 percent saying "not so good" or "poor;" 74 percent rate their local government "excellent" or "good," with 18 percent saying "not so good" or "poor;" 25 percent rate insurance companies "excellent" or "good," with 56 percent saying "not so good" or "poor." "Call Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello, or Snooki and The Situation for you younger folks, but don't invite Sandy. New Jersey voters say Sandy has not changed their vacation plans" said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Will the Shore open for business in the summer? Voters are happy with the recovery. "Gov. Christopher Christie's Sandy performance is still a huge political plus. "Garden State voters think governments - state and local - are doing a good job on recovery. FEMA gets mixed marks. Insurance companies get a thumbs down." New Jersey voters say 69 - 23 percent, including 75 - 22 percent among Shore area voters, that building sand dunes and sea walls to protect ocean front communities is a good idea, even if they block some views. Voters also support 73 - 22 percent, including 73 - 21 percent at the Shore, having the government buy flood-threatened properties and allow no further development on those sites. "Better safe than scenic. Those Shore dwellers who say dunes would spoil their views don't get much sympathy - even from their neighbors in Shore areas. In fact, New Jersey voters say 72 - 22 percent that government has the right to block someone's ocean view with a dune or seawall," Carroll said. "And voters are ready to break the cycle of flooding and recovery by having the government buy flood-prone properties and giving them back to Mother Nature." Sen. Menendez Approval U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez' job approval rating has bounced back to 40 - 37 percent from a negative 36 - 41 percent approval rating in a February 20 Quinnipiac University poll. The negative rating, in the wake of allegations of impropriety, marked a 15-point drop from a 51 - 33 percent approval January 23. New Jersey voters are divided 35 - 36 percent, with 29 percent undecided, on whether Sen. Menendez is honest and trustworthy. Last month, voters said 44 - 28 percent that he is not honest and trustworthy. Voters say 40 - 35 percent, with 25 percent undecided, that they are satisfied with the way Menendez is handling this matter. The controversy is worth investigation, 53 percent of voters say, while 30 percent say it is politically motivated. "The fall-out from those scandal stories has wounded Sen. Robert Menendez, but it looks like he has stopped the bleeding and even recovered a little," Carroll said. "A substantial number of voters say the attacks are 'just politics,' but a majority thinks the allegations should be investigated." From March 19 - 24, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,129 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 information or RSS feed, visit http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling, or call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter. 5. 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 40% 23% 63% 33% 40% 40% 33% 62% Disapprove 37 60 14 43 44 32 44 14 DK/NA 22 17 23 24 16 28 23 25 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YRS....... ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME Yes No 18-34 35-54 55+ <50K 50-100 >100K Approve 40% 40% 41% 38% 42% 48% 38% 38% Disapprove 40 36 30 40 39 31 38 45 DK/NA 20 24 29 22 19 21 24 16 HEARD OF CONTROVERSY Q17 Yes No Approve 41% 39% Disapprove 44 21 DK/NA 15 40 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Robert Menendez is handling his job as United States Senator? APPROVE....... High Low Mar 27 Feb 21 Jan 23 Nov 28 Jul 18 Nov 28 Feb 20 2013 2013 2013 2012 2012 2012 2008 Approve 40 36 51 56 46 56 30 Disapprove 37 41 33 29 32 29 31 DK/NA 22 23 15 14 22 14 39 6. 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 42% 33% 57% 38% 44% 41% 41% 54% Disapprove 33 54 14 35 36 29 36 19 DK/NA 25 13 28 27 20 29 23 27 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YRS....... ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME Yes No 18-34 35-54 55+ <50K 50-100 >100K Approve 42% 43% 36% 40% 47% 43% 44% 40% Disapprove 35 31 22 36 35 27 37 38 DK/NA 23 26 42 24 19 30 19 22 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 Mar 27 Feb 21 Jan 23 Nov 28 Sep 05 Jul 27 Feb 20 2013 2013 2013 2012 2012 2000* 2008 Approve 42 48 50 49 44 55 39 Disapprove 33 32 34 33 36 22 31 DK/NA 25 19 16 19 20 23 29 16. Would you say that Robert Menendez is honest and trustworthy or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 35% 21% 53% 27% 36% 33% 29% 44% No 36 56 17 40 44 30 40 25 DK/NA 29 23 30 32 21 37 30 32 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YRS....... ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME Yes No 18-34 35-54 55+ <50K 50-100 >100K Yes 33% 35% 34% 33% 37% 40% 34% 32% No 41 33 28 40 37 30 38 44 DK/NA 26 31 38 28 26 31 28 24 HEARD OF CONTROVERSY Q17 Yes No Yes 36% 34% No 44 16 DK/NA 20 51 TREND: Would you say that Robert Menendez is honest and trustworthy or not? Mar 27 Feb 21 Sep 20 Jun 15 2013 2013 2006 2006 Yes 35 28 33 38 No 36 44 24 21 DK/NA 29 28 43 41 17. Have you heard or read anything about the controversy surrounding Senator Menendez and his ties to a political donor? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 73% 78% 72% 72% 76% 70% 76% 61% No 25 19 25 26 22 27 21 39 DK/NA 2 4 3 2 2 3 3 - COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YRS....... ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME Yes No 18-34 35-54 55+ <50K 50-100 >100K Yes 82% 67% 42% 78% 82% 64% 77% 80% No 16 30 53 20 17 34 22 16 DK/NA 2 2 5 2 1 2 1 4 TREND: Have you heard or read anything about the controversy surrounding Senator Menendez and his ties to a political donor? Mar 27 Feb 21 2013 2013 Yes 73 70 No 25 28 DK/NA 2 2 18. Does this controversy make you think less favorably of Senator Menendez or doesn't it make a difference? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Less favorably 41% 59% 30% 41% 43% 39% 47% 20% No difference 47 34 58 44 48 46 40 77 DK/NA 12 7 12 15 9 14 14 4 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YRS....... ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME Yes No 18-34 35-54 55+ <50K 50-100 >100K Less favorably 47% 37% 32% 41% 43% 33% 41% 51% No difference 41 51 51 48 46 55 47 39 DK/NA 12 12 16 11 11 12 12 10 HEARD OF CONTROVERSY Q17 Yes No Less favorably 49% 19% No difference 46 51 DK/NA 4 30 TREND: Does this controversy make you think less favorably of Senator Menendez or doesn't it make a difference? Mar 27 Feb 21 2013 2013 Less favorably 41 48 No difference 47 40 DK/NA 12 12 19. Are you satisfied or not satisfied with the way Senator Menendez is handling this matter? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Satisfied 40% 26% 54% 35% 43% 37% 38% 51% Not satisfied 35 49 21 38 37 33 36 27 DK/NA 25 25 25 27 20 30 26 22 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YRS....... ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME Yes No 18-34 35-54 55+ <50K 50-100 >100K Satisfied 38% 41% 30% 42% 43% 41% 47% 33% Not satisfied 38 33 30 35 35 32 30 43 DK/NA 24 26 40 23 22 27 23 24 HEARD OF CONTROVERSY Q17 Yes No Satisfied 46% 25% Not satisfied 40 21 DK/NA 14 55 TREND: Are you satisfied or not satisfied with the way Senator Menendez is handling this matter? Mar 27 Feb 21 2013 2013 Satisfied 40 28 Not satisfied 35 42 DK/NA 25 30 20. Do you think the controversy surrounding Senator Menendez and his ties to a political donor is worth investigating or do you think it is politically motivated? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Worth investigating 53% 70% 39% 54% 56% 50% 55% 48% Politically motivatd 30 18 41 27 25 34 27 37 BOTH (VOL) 5 4 6 5 7 4 5 6 DK/NA 12 7 14 14 12 13 13 9 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YRS....... ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME Yes No 18-34 35-54 55+ <50K 50-100 >100K Worth investigating 52% 53% 50% 53% 54% 51% 52% 58% Politically motivatd 32 28 26 30 32 31 32 27 BOTH (VOL) 6 4 2 6 5 3 5 6 DK/NA 9 14 22 11 10 14 11 9 HEARD OF CONTROVERSY Q17 Yes No Worth investigating 56% 46% Politically motivatd 34 21 BOTH (VOL) 6 2 DK/NA 5 31 TREND: Do you think the controversy surrounding Senator Menendez and his ties to a political donor is worth investigating or do you think it is politically motivated? Mar 27 Feb 21 2013 2013 Worth investigating 53 60 Politically motivatd 30 23 BOTH (VOL) 5 4 DK/NA 12 12 23. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Governor Christie is handling the recovery from Hurricane Sandy? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 85% 91% 81% 85% 86% 83% 88% 79% Disapprove 10 7 13 9 9 11 8 16 DK/NA 5 2 7 7 4 6 4 5 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YRS....... ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME Yes No 18-34 35-54 55+ <50K 50-100 >100K Approve 86% 84% 92% 85% 82% 81% 81% 91% Disapprove 9 11 6 9 13 12 13 6 DK/NA 5 5 1 7 6 7 6 3 Philly Own Rent HmDamaged Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Home Home BySandy Approve 83% 84% 87% 79% 90% 86% 80% 85% Disapprove 11 9 9 15 7 9 12 12 DK/NA 6 6 4 7 3 5 8 3 24. What is your impression of how well New Jersey's recovery from Hurricane Sandy is going; would you say very well, somewhat well, somewhat badly, or very badly? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Very well 13% 18% 12% 9% 14% 11% 13% 10% Somewhat well 61 62 59 64 62 60 63 58 Somewhat badly 17 16 17 17 14 19 17 23 Very badly 5 2 5 5 5 5 4 6 DK/NA 5 2 7 5 5 6 4 3 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YRS....... ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME Yes No 18-34 35-54 55+ <50K 50-100 >100K Very well 10% 15% 33% 11% 7% 17% 9% 14% Somewhat well 67 57 56 61 62 57 61 66 Somewhat badly 16 17 10 19 17 15 18 15 Very badly 3 5 1 3 7 5 7 3 DK/NA 4 6 - 6 7 7 5 3 Philly Own Rent HmDamaged Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Home Home BySandy Very well 14% 13% 12% 9% 15% 11% 19% 12% Somewhat well 62 60 64 64 56 62 53 62 Somewhat badly 14 16 16 14 21 18 17 18 Very badly 2 3 6 7 6 4 5 7 DK/NA 8 7 2 7 2 5 6 2 25. Are you satisfied or not satisfied with the pace of New Jersey's recovery from Hurricane Sandy? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Satisfied 55% 63% 55% 51% 59% 51% 57% 42% Not Satisfied 38 30 39 41 36 40 36 50 DK/NA 7 7 6 7 5 9 7 8 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YRS....... ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME Yes No 18-34 35-54 55+ <50K 50-100 >100K Satisfied 57% 53% 76% 59% 44% 52% 51% 63% Not Satisfied 36 40 22 36 47 40 45 31 DK/NA 7 7 1 6 9 9 4 6 Philly Own Rent HmDamaged Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Home Home BySandy Satisfied 56% 56% 54% 55% 53% 53% 54% 56% Not Satisfied 37 36 38 37 45 39 39 41 DK/NA 7 9 7 8 2 7 7 2 26. How would you rate - FEMA's, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, handling of the recovery from Hurricane Sandy; excellent, good, not so good or poor? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Excellent 5% 2% 8% 4% 4% 6% 4% 12% Good 38 39 44 35 36 40 39 29 Not so good 33 32 32 36 35 30 32 35 Poor 14 17 7 15 18 12 14 15 DK/NA 9 10 9 9 7 11 10 9 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YRS....... ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME Yes No 18-34 35-54 55+ <50K 50-100 >100K Excellent 3% 7% 8% 5% 4% 10% 3% 5% Good 41 37 46 43 33 36 38 44 Not so good 31 34 31 29 37 30 34 30 Poor 14 14 8 16 15 15 18 13 DK/NA 10 8 7 7 11 9 7 9 Philly Own Rent HmDamaged Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Home Home BySandy Excellent 6% 4% 8% 5% 5% 4% 9% 6% Good 41 39 36 39 38 37 41 41 Not so good 30 33 30 32 37 33 32 30 Poor 15 13 15 15 14 15 11 17 DK/NA 8 11 10 9 6 10 7 6 27. How would you rate - the state government's handling of the recovery from Hurricane Sandy; excellent, good, not so good or poor? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Excellent 9% 9% 10% 8% 9% 10% 10% 6% Good 61 71 60 59 64 59 65 53 Not so good 19 14 19 21 17 20 16 29 Poor 5 2 5 6 4 5 4 7 DK/NA 6 4 6 5 5 6 6 5 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YRS....... ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME Yes No 18-34 35-54 55+ <50K 50-100 >100K Excellent 9% 10% 16% 11% 6% 10% 7% 14% Good 64 60 69 60 59 55 60 68 Not so good 17 19 10 18 23 21 24 10 Poor 4 6 2 6 5 7 4 4 DK/NA 6 6 3 5 7 7 5 4 Philly Own Rent HmDamaged Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Home Home BySandy Excellent 6% 8% 10% 14% 10% 8% 10% 11% Good 67 58 67 55 62 62 59 58 Not so good 16 24 14 12 22 19 21 19 Poor 6 3 3 12 2 4 7 8 DK/NA 5 6 5 7 4 7 3 4 28. How would you rate - your local government's handling of the recovery from Hurricane Sandy; excellent, good, not so good or poor? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Excellent 19% 20% 19% 18% 20% 17% 22% 10% Good 55 61 55 55 55 55 53 64 Not so good 13 9 15 14 13 14 11 18 Poor 5 3 4 6 6 5 4 6 DK/NA 7 7 7 7 6 9 8 2 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YRS....... ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME Yes No 18-34 35-54 55+ <50K 50-100 >100K Excellent 20% 17% 24% 20% 16% 11% 21% 25% Good 56 55 58 56 55 58 56 53 Not so good 10 15 13 14 13 16 13 10 Poor 6 5 4 6 5 7 5 5 DK/NA 8 7 2 4 12 9 6 7 Philly Own Rent HmDamaged Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Home Home BySandy Excellent 14% 21% 24% 19% 13% 20% 14% 20% Good 67 53 49 47 65 54 57 54 Not so good 8 16 13 12 14 12 19 16 Poor 8 3 7 8 4 5 7 8 DK/NA 4 8 7 14 3 9 4 2 29. How would you rate - the insurance companies' handling of the recovery from Hurricane Sandy; excellent, good, not so good or poor? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Excellent 3% 3% 3% 2% 2% 4% 4% 4% Good 22 28 22 19 21 23 23 19 Not so good 31 32 34 29 32 29 30 37 Poor 25 17 25 30 28 23 23 30 DK/NA 19 20 16 20 17 21 21 10 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YRS....... ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME Yes No 18-34 35-54 55+ <50K 50-100 >100K Excellent 3% 3% 5% 3% 3% 5% 2% 3% Good 23 22 38 21 18 17 22 27 Not so good 27 33 33 28 33 37 30 25 Poor 23 26 12 30 26 23 30 24 DK/NA 24 16 12 18 21 18 16 22 Philly Own Rent HmDamaged Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Home Home BySandy Excellent 3% 4% 5% 3% 2% 4% 2% 6% Good 14 21 31 25 20 22 23 25 Not so good 40 29 21 26 39 26 40 24 Poor 24 28 20 23 28 26 21 32 DK/NA 19 18 23 23 12 22 13 13 30. Have you already or do you expect to change your vacation plans this summer because of Hurricane Sandy? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes/Change plans 13% 11% 10% 16% 12% 14% 10% 25% No 85 88 88 81 85 85 88 74 DK/NA 2 1 2 3 3 2 2 1 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YRS....... ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME Yes No 18-34 35-54 55+ <50K 50-100 >100K Yes/Change plans 12% 14% 19% 16% 8% 15% 12% 14% No 87 84 80 81 90 82 87 84 DK/NA 2 2 1 3 2 3 1 1 Philly Own Rent HmDamaged Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Home Home BySandy Yes/Change plans 19% 17% 10% 13% 6% 11% 19% 23% No 78 81 88 87 91 88 78 76 DK/NA 3 2 3 - 3 2 3 1 31. Some have suggested that the government should build dunes or sea walls along the shore to protect ocean front communities from storms, even if it blocks ocean views for some homes. Do you think that is a good idea or a bad idea? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Good idea 69% 72% 69% 70% 66% 73% 71% 70% Bad idea 23 20 23 23 27 19 21 26 DK/NA 8 8 8 7 8 8 8 5 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YRS....... ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME Yes No 18-34 35-54 55+ <50K 50-100 >100K Good idea 70% 69% 71% 71% 68% 69% 74% 66% Bad idea 22 23 25 21 23 20 19 28 DK/NA 8 8 4 8 9 11 8 6 Philly Own Rent HmDamaged Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Home Home BySandy Good idea 72% 73% 61% 63% 75% 68% 74% 69% Bad idea 22 18 29 28 22 24 20 24 DK/NA 6 10 10 9 4 8 6 7 32. Do you think government has the right to block someone's ocean view by building a dune or a sea wall or doesn't the government have the right to do that? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes/Has right 72% 69% 77% 71% 70% 73% 74% 70% No, not 22 24 18 22 25 19 19 24 DK/NA 7 7 5 7 5 8 7 6 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YRS....... ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME Yes No 18-34 35-54 55+ <50K 50-100 >100K Yes/Has right 79% 67% 70% 77% 69% 65% 77% 76% No, not 17 25 29 20 21 27 19 20 DK/NA 4 8 2 3 9 8 4 3 Philly Own Rent HmDamaged Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Home Home BySandy Yes/Has right 69% 73% 67% 71% 77% 74% 68% 74% No, not 23 19 25 24 19 20 27 20 DK/NA 8 7 8 5 5 7 5 6 33. There are proposals for a government program to buy flood threatened properties and allow no further development on those sites. Do you think that is a good idea or a bad idea? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Good idea 73% 74% 77% 71% 71% 75% 76% 67% Bad idea 22 23 18 23 26 18 19 26 DK/NA 5 3 5 6 3 7 5 7 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YRS....... ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME Yes No 18-34 35-54 55+ <50K 50-100 >100K Good idea 77% 71% 64% 79% 72% 69% 78% 75% Bad idea 19 23 35 18 19 26 18 21 DK/NA 4 6 1 3 8 5 4 4 Philly Own Rent HmDamaged Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Home Home BySandy Good idea 69% 76% 73% 72% 73% 74% 70% 75% Bad idea 26 18 23 24 21 20 26 22 DK/NA 6 6 4 4 7 6 4 3 Demographic Summary
