July 10, 2013 - New Jersey Gov Has Long Lead, But Short Coattails, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Christie Holds 2-1 Approval, 2-1 Reelection Lead PDF format New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie has a 2-1 job approval rating and a 2-1 lead over State Sen. Barbara Buono, his Democratic challenger, but his coattails seem to have very little impact on voters, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Gov. Christie tops Sen. Buono 61 - 29 percent, virtually unchanged from the results of a June 10 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University. In today's survey, Christie leads 59 - 30 percent among women, 64 - 28 percent among men, 93 - 2 percent among Republicans and 67 - 24 percent among independent voters. Buono takes Democrats 55 - 35 percent. New Jersey voters give Christie a 68 - 26 percent job approval rating, keeping him number one in job approval among the governors in the nine states surveyed by Quinnipiac University. Only 20 percent of voters say they are more likely to vote for a state legislative candidate endorsed by Christie, with 15 percent less likely and 63 percent who say the governor's endorsement won't influence their vote. Buono's coattails are even shorter as 8 percent say they are more likely to vote for her picks, with 18 percent less likely and 70 percent who say her endorsement won't affect their vote. "Coattails looks like the only question in the one-sided New Jersey race for governor and incumbent Christopher Christie doesn't seem to have them," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "The governor continues to thrash Sen. Buono, but voters say they're not inclined to support legislative candidates because Christie supports them, or, as a matter of fact, because Buono supports them," Carroll added. "It could change when the real campaign starts after Labor Day, if Christie decides to emulate his mentor, former Gov. Tom Kean, and work for the rest of the ticket. "But at this stage, Christie is good only for Christie." If Christie wins, New Jersey voters say 51 - 36 percent they would like the Democrats rather than Republicans to control the State Legislature. If Buono wins, 43 percent of voters want Democratic control and 41 percent want Republican control of the legislature. Christie gets a 66 - 27 percent favorability rating and voters say 66 - 26 percent, including 46 - 44 percent among Democrats, that he deserves to be reelected. Buono gets a 25 percent favorability rating, with 29 percent unfavorable and 45 percent who don't know enough about her to form an opinion. New Jersey voters support a state law allowing same-sex marriage 60 - 31 percent, with almost no gender gap. Support is 69 - 23 percent among Democrats and 64 - 28 percent among independent voters, with Republicans opposed 49 - 39 percent. "Christie-Buono looks like a walk-away. The governor's job approval is stratospheric and even his veto of same-sex marriage, an issue which continues to draw 2-1 support, hasn't hurt him," Carroll said. From July 2 - 7, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,068 New Jersey voters with a margin of error of +/- 3 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, Iowa, Colorado and the nation as a public service and for research. For more information, visit http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter. 13. If the election for Governor were being held today, and the candidates were Barbara Buono the Democrat and Christopher Christie the Republican, for whom would you vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Buono 29% 2% 55% 24% 28% 30% 23% 54% Christie 61 93 35 67 64 59 68 30 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - - 1 2 - 1 3 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 2 - 2 2 2 2 - DK/NA 7 3 10 5 4 9 6 12 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-34 35-54 55+ Buono 33% 27% 31% 32% 27% 36% 31% 26% Christie 57 63 60 59 64 57 61 64 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 1 1 - 2 1 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 2 4 2 - - 1 3 DK/NA 8 7 4 7 8 5 6 7 TREND: If the election for Governor were being held today, and the candidates were Barbara Buono the Democrat and Christopher Christie the Republican, for whom would you vote? CHRISTIE...... High Low Jul 10 Jun 10 Apr 24 Mar 26 Feb 20 Jan 23 Oct 17 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2012 Buono 29 29 26 25 25 22 33 Christie 61 59 58 60 62 63 49 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 1 1 1 1 - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 DK/NA 7 9 13 13 12 13 17 14. 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 66% 89% 48% 70% 65% 67% 71% 44% Unfavorable 27 6 41 27 29 25 25 35 Hvn't hrd enough 3 1 7 2 2 4 1 14 REFUSED 4 4 4 1 4 4 2 7 TREND: Is your opinion of Christopher Christie favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? (*High also 69% Jan 2013, Feb 2013) FAVORABLE..... High Low Jul 10 Jun 10 Apr 24 Mar 26 Feb 20 Mar 26 Aug 12 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013* 2008 Favorable 66 63 66 69 69 69 21 Unfavorable 27 27 24 22 22 22 7 Hvn't hrd enough 3 4 5 6 6 6 69 REFUSED 4 6 4 4 3 4 2 15. Is your opinion of Barbara Buono favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about her? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Favorable 25% 5% 46% 19% 28% 23% 22% 34% Unfavorable 29 62 4 32 32 26 35 1 Hvn't hrd enough 45 33 48 49 39 50 42 62 REFUSED 1 1 1 - 1 1 1 2 TREND: Is your opinion of Barbara Buono favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about her? Jul 10 Jun 10 Apr 24 Mar 26 Feb 20 Jan 23 Nov 28 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2012 Favorable 25 18 12 10 8 8 8 Unfavorable 29 23 9 10 8 9 7 Hvn't hrd enough 45 56 78 79 83 82 84 REFUSED 1 3 1 1 1 - 1 16. 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 68% 90% 51% 70% 67% 69% 71% 48% Disapprove 26 6 43 24 28 25 24 39 DK/NA 6 4 7 5 5 6 5 12 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-34 35-54 55+ Approve 62% 71% 67% 65% 68% 57% 70% 70% Disapprove 32 22 26 31 27 40 26 21 DK/NA 6 6 7 5 5 2 4 8 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christopher Christie is handling his job as Governor? (*High also 74% Jan 2013, **Low also 44% Jun 2010) APPROVE....... High Low Jul 10 Jun 10 Apr 24 Mar 26 Feb 20 Feb 20 Jun 21 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013* 2011** Approve 68 69 67 70 74 74 44 Disapprove 26 27 24 23 22 22 47 DK/NA 6 5 9 7 4 4 10 18. Do you feel that Christopher Christie 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 66% 89% 46% 73% 65% 67% 71% 44% No/Does not 26 5 44 23 27 24 23 44 DK/NA 8 6 10 4 7 8 6 12 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-34 35-54 55+ Yes/Deserves 63% 68% 66% 65% 70% 59% 68% 69% No/Does not 31 23 27 30 25 36 27 21 DK/NA 6 9 7 5 5 4 6 9 TREND: Do you feel that Christopher Christie deserves to be reelected, or do you feel that he does not deserve to be reelected? YES/DESERVES.. High Low Jul 10 Jun 10 Apr 24 Mar 26 Feb 20 Feb 20 Oct 17 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2012 Yes/Deserves 66 65 66 66 71 71 52 No/Does not 26 28 26 25 23 23 40 DK/NA 8 7 7 9 6 6 8 19. 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 9% 20% 4% 5% 9% 8% 10% 1% Smwht satisfied 52 55 45 56 54 50 54 49 Smwht dissatisfied 28 20 38 25 24 31 27 34 Very dissatisfied 11 5 13 14 12 10 10 16 DK/NA - - 1 - - - - - COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-34 35-54 55+ Very satisfied 7% 10% 5% 13% 9% 5% 8% 10% Smwht satisfied 51 53 50 49 53 54 52 52 Smwht dissatisfied 30 26 32 27 27 31 29 26 Very dissatisfied 11 11 12 12 11 9 12 11 DK/NA 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 Jul 10 Apr 24 Mar 26 Feb 20 Jan 23 Dec 26 Jun 17 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2000* 2010 Very satisfied 9 7 7 8 6 10 2 Smwht satisfied 52 52 53 53 52 61 22 Smwht dissatisfied 28 27 28 28 30 21 36 Very dissatisfied 11 13 10 10 11 7 39 DK/NA - 1 1 - 1 1 1 20. If Christopher Christie is reelected Governor, would you like to see the Democrats or the Republicans control the New Jersey state legislature? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Democrats 51% 9% 91% 44% 50% 52% 42% 81% Republicans 36 86 3 38 39 34 45 4 DK/NA 13 5 5 18 11 15 12 15 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-34 35-54 55+ Democrats 58% 46% 48% 54% 55% 59% 53% 46% Republicans 34 38 34 36 37 27 38 40 DK/NA 8 16 17 11 7 14 9 14 21. If Barbara Buono is elected Governor, would you like to see the Democrats or the Republicans control the New Jersey state legislature? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Democrats 43% 1% 87% 35% 42% 45% 36% 77% Republicans 41 93 6 45 45 38 50 3 DK/NA 15 6 7 20 13 17 14 20 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-34 35-54 55+ Democrats 49% 40% 45% 46% 45% 54% 44% 40% Republicans 41 42 36 40 46 30 41 46 DK/NA 11 18 20 15 8 15 14 14 22. If Christopher Christie supports a state legislative candidate, would that make you more likely to vote for that candidate, less likely to vote for that candidate, or wouldn't it make a difference? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk More likely 20% 43% 7% 17% 21% 18% 23% 11% Less likely 15 1 31 11 16 14 13 23 No difference 63 53 60 69 61 64 61 62 DK/NA 3 2 2 3 2 4 3 4 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-34 35-54 55+ More likely 17% 21% 16% 22% 20% 19% 17% 23% Less likely 21 11 11 17 16 19 13 14 No difference 62 63 67 59 63 60 69 58 DK/NA 1 4 5 1 1 2 1 5 23. If Barbara Buono supports a state legislative candidate, would that make you more likely to vote for that candidate, less likely to vote for that candidate, or wouldn't it make a difference? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk More likely 8% - 19% 4% 9% 8% 7% 12% Less likely 18 42 4 16 20 16 23 1 No difference 70 54 75 77 69 71 67 83 DK/NA 3 4 2 3 1 5 3 4 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-34 35-54 55+ More likely 9% 8% 7% 10% 8% 7% 10% 8% Less likely 18 18 16 21 18 11 16 23 No difference 71 70 71 68 73 83 71 64 DK/NA 2 4 6 1 1 - 3 5 24. Would you describe the state of New Jersey's economy these days as excellent, good, not so good, or poor? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Excellent 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 3% Good 38 49 32 36 41 35 40 28 Not so good 44 40 49 42 41 47 43 55 Poor 15 8 16 20 16 14 14 12 DK/NA 2 2 2 1 1 2 1 2 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-34 35-54 55+ Excellent 1% 2% 2% - 1% 2% 2% 1% Good 42 35 24 42 46 45 39 35 Not so good 43 45 52 40 40 41 44 46 Poor 14 16 19 17 12 11 16 16 DK/NA 1 2 2 - 1 1 - 2 TREND: Would you describe the state of New Jersey's economy these days as excellent, good, not so good, or poor? (*Low also 7% on Feb 2009) EXCLNT+GOOD... High Low Jul 10 Aug 12 Apr 22 Mar 11 Feb 5 Oct 18 Aug 12 2013 2009 2009 2009 2009 2001 2009* Excellent 1 - - - - 3 - Good 38 7 10 8 7 54 7 Not so good 44 46 48 43 43 37 46 Poor 15 45 40 48 50 5 45 DK/NA 2 1 1 1 - 2 1 25. Do you think New Jersey's economy is getting better, getting worse, or staying about the same? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Better 33% 44% 27% 33% 36% 31% 36% 19% Worse 14 10 16 15 11 16 11 19 The same 51 46 54 52 52 51 52 56 DK/NA 2 - 3 - 1 3 1 6 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-34 35-54 55+ Better 37% 31% 23% 35% 41% 41% 33% 31% Worse 12 14 15 16 9 14 13 14 The same 50 52 61 49 50 45 55 53 DK/NA 1 2 2 - 1 - - 3 TREND: Do you think New Jersey's economy is getting better, getting worse, or staying about the same? (* Would you say that New Jersey's economy ...) Jul 10 Apr 22 Mar 11 Jun 22 2013 2009 2009 2004* Better 33 8 3 21 Worse 14 42 61 18 Same 51 47 35 58 DK/NA 2 3 2 2 26. Compared to most other states, would you say New Jersey's economy is better, worse, or about the same? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Better 26% 25% 28% 24% 30% 23% 25% 21% Worse 25 19 28 27 26 25 25 26 About the same 43 48 39 45 41 45 44 46 DK/NA 6 9 6 4 3 8 5 7 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-34 35-54 55+ Better 27% 25% 20% 20% 34% 39% 28% 18% Worse 27 24 28 25 22 27 27 23 About the same 41 44 48 45 39 33 40 51 DK/NA 5 7 4 9 5 - 6 8 TREND: Compared to most other states, would you say New Jersey's economy is better, worse, or about the same? Jul 10 Jun 22 2013 2004 Better 26 32 Worse 25 18 About the same 43 44 DK/NA 6 6 27. Do you think Governor Christie's decision to hold the senate election to replace Frank Lautenberg in October was based more on politics or more on principle? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk More on politics 59% 42% 69% 58% 61% 56% 57% 62% More on principle 30 46 24 28 30 30 31 28 DK/NA 11 12 7 14 8 14 12 10 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-34 35-54 55+ More on politics 67% 53% 54% 63% 64% 54% 62% 58% More on principle 26 33 34 27 29 35 28 31 DK/NA 7 14 13 9 8 11 10 12 TREND: Do you think Governor Christie's decision to hold the senate election to replace Frank Lautenberg in October was based more on politics or more on principle? (* senate election in October) Jul 10 Jun 10 2013 2013* More on politics 59 62 More on principle 30 29 DK/NA 11 9 28. 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 60% 39% 69% 64% 60% 60% 63% 42% Oppose 31 49 23 28 29 32 30 46 DK/NA 9 12 8 9 10 8 7 11 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-34 35-54 55+ Support 69% 55% 54% 61% 69% 83% 63% 50% Oppose 24 35 38 32 24 15 27 41 DK/NA 8 10 8 7 7 3 10 10 TREND: Would you support or oppose a law that would allow same-sex couples to get married? SUPPORT...... High Low Jul 10 Mar 26 May 17 Mar 01 Jan 19 Mar 26 Nov 8 2013 2013 2012 2012 2012 2013 2006 Support 60 64 53 57 52 64 41 Oppose 31 30 42 37 42 30 50 DK/NA 9 6 5 6 6 6 9 Demographic Summary
