April 23, 1998 - Whitman-Lautenberg Would Tie In Jersey Senate Race, Quinnipiac College Poll Finds; Bradley Gets A Good Look In Run For President New Jersey's Republican Gov. Christine Todd Whitman would tie Democratic U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg 44 - 45 percent if she decided to run for the U.S. Senate in the year 2000, according to a Quinnipiac College Poll released today. If former U.S. Senator Bill Bradley runs for President in 2000, 42 percent of New Jersey voters say there is a good chance they'd vote for him, while 34 percent say there is some chance and 18 percent say there is no chance. Gov. Whitman's approval rating stands at 58 - 37 percent, unchanged since a March 4 poll by the Independent Quinnipiac College. Sen. Lautenberg's approval is 51 - 25 percent. "It's still two years before Sen. Frank Lautenberg must run for reelection, but right now he and Gov. Whitman are neck and neck," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac College Polling Institute. "Whitman might want to look long and hard at a future in the Senate, because her presence on the Republican national ticket wouldn't be much of a draw in her home state. Another well-known Garden Stater, Bill Bradley, is a good White House bet, his New Jersey neighbors say. By large margins, they say they'd vote for the Democratic ex-Senator." If Whitman were the Republican candidate for Vice President in 2000, 20 percent of New Jersey voters would be more likely to vote Republican, while 29 percent would be less likely and 46 percent say it makes no difference. Looking at their Governor's characteristics: 73 percent call her a leader, while 18 percent call her a follower; 74 percent say she's intelligent, while 23 percent say she's only average; 84 percent say she's confident, while 9 percent say she's insecure; 56 percent say she's warm and friendly, while 25 percent say she's cold and unfriendly; 62 percent say she's sincere, while 27 percent say she's insincere; 50 percent say she cares about their needs and problems, while 43 percent say she doesn't. "What a resume! Gov. Whitman is a leader, smart, confident, warm, friendly, sincere. In only one area does the Governor from Somerset County horse country miss the big numbers: Only half of New Jersey voters believe she cares about the needs and problems of people like them," Carroll said. From April 15 - 20, Quinnipiac College surveyed 860 New Jersey residents who say they are registered voters. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.3 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 visit www.quinnipiac.com 1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christine Whitman is handling her job as Governor of New Jersey? Mar 4 Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1998 Approve 58% 75% 42% 59% 59% 57% 58% Disapprove 37 22 52 35 35 38 38 DK/NA 6 3 6 7 6 5 4 1A. Is that strongly or somewhat? Mar 4 Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1998 Approve strongly 22% 38% 11% 19% 23% 20% 22% Approve smwht 36 37 30 40 36 36 37 Disapprove smwht 18 11 23 17 18 18 17 Disapprove strongly 19 11 29 17 18 20 21 DK/NA 6 3 6 7 6 5 3 2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Frank Lautenberg is handling his job as United States Senator? Mar 4 Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1998 Approve 51% 39% 63% 53% 48% 54% 52% Disapprove 25 38 12 26 32 20 23 DK/NA 23 22 25 21 20 26 25 3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Robert Torricelli is handling his job as United States Senator? Mar 4 Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1998 Approve 42% 29% 53% 45% 41% 43% 45% Disapprove 25 39 11 26 30 21 23 DK/NA 33 32 35 29 29 36 32 4. If former United States Senator Bill Bradley runs for President in the year 2000, how much chance is there that you would vote for him? Is there a good chance, some chance, or no chance? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Good chance 42% 28% 52% 45% 42% 41% Some chance 34 37 31 36 31 37 No chance 18 30 12 13 23 15 DK/NA 6 5 5 6 5 7 5. If the election for Senator in the year 2000 were being held today and the candidates were Frank Lautenberg the Democrat, and Christine Whitman the Republican, for whom you would vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Lautenberg 45% 13% 75% 45% 42% 47% Whitman 44 78 16 45 47 42 SOMEONE ELSE(VOL) 2 1 3 1 3 2 WOULDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 3 1 2 3 2 DK/NA 6 5 4 6 7 6 6. If Christine Whitman were the Republican Vice-Presidential candidate in the year 2000, would that make you more likely to vote for the Republican ticket, less likely, or wouldn't it make a difference? Mar 4 Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1998 More likely 20% 34% 10% 22% 19% 21% 17% Less likely 29 14 44 26 26 31 32 No difference 46 51 41 47 50 43 46 DK/NA 5 2 5 6 4 6 5 7. Would you describe Christine Whitman more as a leader or a follower? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Leader 73% 86% 67% 72% 71% 74% Follower 18 9 27 17 19 17 NEITHER(VOL) 5 3 3 7 5 5 DK/NA 4 2 3 5 4 4 8. Would you describe Christine Whitman more as intelligent or only average? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Intelligent 74% 81% 70% 74% 74% 75% Only average 23 17 28 23 24 22 NEITHER(VOL) 1 1 - 1 1 1 DK/NA 2 - 2 2 2 2 9. Would you describe Christine Whitman more as confident or insecure? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Confident 84% 90% 81% 83% 81% 86% Insecure 9 5 12 9 11 7 NEITHER(VOL) 4 4 3 5 5 4 DK/NA 3 1 3 3 4 3 10. Would you describe Christine Whitman more as warm and friendly or cold and unfriendly? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Warm and friendly 56% 73% 45% 53% 58% 54% Cold and unfriendly 25 12 37 26 22 28 NEITHER(VOL) 13 12 12 14 13 13 DK/NA 6 4 7 7 7 6 11. Would you describe Christine Whitman more as sincere or insincere? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Sincere 62% 81% 51% 58% 64% 59% Insincere 27 10 38 28 25 28 NEITHER(VOL) 7 6 6 7 7 7 DK/NA 5 2 5 7 5 5 12. Do you think Christine Whitman cares about the needs and problems of people like you? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 50% 72% 30% 51% 53% 48% No 43 24 62 42 41 45 DK/NA 7 4 8 7 7 7
