July 22, 1999 - Men, Women Back Whitman Over Florio In Senate Race, Quinnipiac College Poll Finds; Bob Grant Would Cut Slightly Into Whitman Lead Gov. Christine Todd Whitman holds a commanding 52 - 35 percent lead over former Democratic Governor James Florio in their possible U.S. Senate race, with equally strong support among men and women, according to a Quinnipiac College Poll released today. Gov. Whitman leads 54 - 34 percent among men and 51 - 35 percent among women, the independent Quinnipiac College Poll of New Jersey registered voters finds. If radio personality Bob Grant were to enter the race as a third party candidate, Whitman would get 46 percent to Florio's 32 percent, with 11 percent for Grant. Whitman would beat businessman Jon Corzine 56 - 22 percent. "At this early stage, Gov. Whitman wins, no matter who is on the ballot against her. New Jerseyans think highly of their current governor. They don't think highly of her predecessor," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac College Polling Institute. "As a right-wing radio host, Bob Grant is popular. But New Jerseyans don't know much about him as a candidate. Or if they do, they don't like him. He gets 11 percent of the vote, cutting into Whitman's support more than Florio's." Republicans back Whitman over Florio 82 - 8 percent, while Democrats back Florio 66 - 22 percent and independent voters go with Whitman 54 - 32 percent. The Governor's approval rating is 55 - 37 percent, unchanged from a June 9 Quinnipiac College Poll. Sen. Frank Lautenberg has a 55 - 25 percent approval rating, while Sen. Robert Torricelli has a 44 - 29 percent approval. By a 44 - 29 percent margin, voters have a favorable opinion of Whitman, while 24 percent have a mixed opinion and 2 percent haven't heard enough to form an opinion. Favorability ratings for other possible Senate candidates are: Favorable Unfavorable Mixed No Opinion Florio 21 38 23 17 Radio host Bob Grant 11 23 10 56 Businessman Jon Corzine 3 3 3 90 "Corzine, the great North Jersey hope of some Democratic professionals, is all but anonymous to the general public," Carroll said. Florio would beat Corzine in a Democratic Primary 55 - 19 percent. "You have to assume -- given that no one knows much about Corzine -- that sentiment for Corzine in a primary is essentially sentiment against Florio," Carroll said. From July 13 - 20, Quinnipiac College surveyed 1,082 New Jersey residents who say they are registered voters. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 3 percent. The Quinnipiac College Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut as a public service and for research. For additional data: www.quinnipiac.edu 1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christine Whitman is handling her job as Governor of New Jersey? Jun 9 Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1999 Approve 55% 75% 38% 56% 56% 55% 55% Disapprove 37 20 52 38 37 36 37 DK/NA 8 5 11 6 7 9 8 2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Frank Lautenberg is handling his job as United States Senator? Mar 31 Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1999 Approve 55% 42% 68% 56% 52% 57% 54% Disapprove 25 40 15 24 30 21 25 DK/NA 20 18 17 20 17 22 21 3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Robert Torricelli is handling his job as United States Senator? Mar 31 Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1999 Approve 44% 34% 61% 38% 42% 45% 43% Disapprove 29 40 16 32 36 23 29 DK/NA 28 26 23 30 22 32 28 6. Is your opinion of former New Jersey Governor James Florio favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him? Jun 9 Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1999 Favorable 21% 8% 35% 19% 22% 20% 25% Unfavorable 38 60 17 39 43 34 34 Mixed 23 18 27 26 22 25 22 Haven't heard enough 17 13 20 16 12 21 18 REFUSED 1 - - 1 1 1 1 7. Is your opinion of New Jersey Governor Christine Whitman favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about her? Jun 9 Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1999 Favorable 44% 65% 21% 45% 47% 42% 48% Unfavorable 29 14 44 29 29 28 28 Mixed 24 19 32 24 21 27 21 Haven't heard enough 2 1 3 2 2 3 2 REFUSED - - - - 1 - - 8. Is your opinion of businessman Jon Corzine favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him? Jun 9 Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1999 Favorable 3% 4% 4% 3% 4% 2% 3% Unfavorable 3 3 4 1 4 1 2 Mixed 3 2 4 3 3 3 4 Haven't heard enough 90 90 87 93 88 93 91 REFUSED 1 1 1 - - 1 - 9. Is your opinion of broadcast personality Bob Grant favorable unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him? Jun 9 Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1999 Favorable 11% 19% 7% 10% 15% 8% 15% Unfavorable 23 15 30 23 28 18 19 Mixed 10 12 8 11 10 9 12 Haven't heard enough 56 55 55 55 46 64 54 REFUSED 1 - 1 1 - 1 1 10. If the election for United States Senator in the year 2000 were being held today and the candidates were James Florio the Democrat, and Christine Whitman the Republican, for whom would you vote? Jun 9 Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1999 Florio 35% 8% 66% 32% 34% 35% 38% Whitman 52 82 22 54 54 51 50 SOMEONE ELSE(VOL) 4 3 4 5 4 4 3 WOULDN'T VOTE(VOL) 4 4 3 3 3 4 3 DK/NA 6 3 5 6 5 6 6 11. If the election for United States Senator in the year 2000 were being held today and the candidates were James Florio the Democrat, Christine Whitman the Republican, and Bob Grant the independent, for whom would you vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Florio 32% 7% 64% 27% 31% 33% Grant 11 12 7 14 12 9 Whitman 46 74 18 46 47 45 SOMEONE ELSE(VOL) 2 1 2 2 2 2 WOULDN'T VOTE(VOL) 3 2 3 2 3 3 DK/NA 7 5 6 8 6 8 12. If the election for United States Senator in the year 2000 were being held today and the candidates were Jon Corzine the Democrat, and Christine Whitman the Republican, for whom would you vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Corzine 22% 6% 42% 20% 22% 21% Whitman 56 83 32 55 61 52 SOMEONE ELSE(VOL) 2 1 4 2 2 3 WOULDN'T VOTE(VOL) 6 4 6 6 5 7 DK/NA 14 6 17 16 11 17 13. If the election for United States Senator in the year 2000 were being held today and the candidates were Jon Corzine the Democrat, Christine Whitman the Republican, and Bob Grant the independent, for whom would you vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Corzine 17% 4% 38% 11% 18% 16% Grant 11 13 6 14 11 11 Whitman 52 76 29 52 56 49 SOMEONE ELSE(VOL) 2 1 4 1 2 2 WOULDN'T VOTE(VOL) 4 1 5 5 4 4 DK/NA 15 5 18 17 10 18 34.(If Registered Democrat) If the Democratic primary for United States Senator in the year 2000 were being held today and the candidates were James Florio and Jon Corzine, for whom would you vote? Registered Democrats Florio 55% Corzine 19 SOMEONE ELSE(VOL) 1 WON'T VOTE(VOL) 7 DK/NA 19
