November 22, 2005 - Codey Is Top Voter Choice For New Jersey Senate, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Little Confidence Corzine Will Fix Taxes, Corruption Acting Governor Richard Codey is the leading choice of New Jersey voters when they are asked whom Governor-elect Jon Corzine should name to the U.S. Senate, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Codey is the choice of 43 percent of voters, followed by 14 percent for U.S. Rep. Robert Menendez, 10 percent for U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews, 8 percent for U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, with 4 percent who want someone else and 22 percent undecided, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. In an early look at the 2006 U.S. Senate race, Codey would beat Tom Kean Jr., a frequently named Republican contender, 55 - 32 percent. In other possible matchups: Kean gets 39 percent to 38 percent for Andrews, a statistical tie; Menendez gets 41 percent to Kean's 39 percent, also too close to call; Kean and Pallone get 38 percent each. New Jersey voters approve 68 - 16 percent of the job Codey is doing as Governor, his highest approval ever. Republican voters approve 62 - 22 percent. "Acting Governor Richard Codey is not only the clear favorite among voters to be New Jersey's next Senator, he is the only Democrat showing the political clout to battle Tom Kean Jr., the most talked about Republican contender in next year's race," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Codey easily outdistances Reps. Andrews, Menendez and Pallone and probably would hold the same edge over any of the other Democrats whose names have been suggested as Senate candidates. If any of the Democratic nominees get the nod from Governor-elect Corzine for his Senate seat, they are sure to face a tough battle against Kean," Richards added. Lowering taxes should be Governor-elect Corzine's top priority, a majority of voters say, including 28 percent who want lower property taxes and another 23 percent who call for lower taxes in general. A total of 8 percent say improve education or education funding, with 6 percent who say reducing corruption is the top priority. Voters say 50 - 37 percent that Governor-elect Corzine will not clean up corruption in New Jersey. Voters split 46 - 44 percent on whether the new Governor will reduce property taxes. "New Jersey voters aren't very optimistic that, as Governor, Jon Corzine will be able to keep his campaign promises to cut property taxes and clean up corruption," Richards said. From November 16 - 20, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,111 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Florida and nationally as a public service and for research. For additional data -- www.quinnipiac.edu and quicklinks or call (203) 582-5201. 1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Richard Codey is handling his job as acting Governor? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 68% 62% 76% 66% 70% 66% Disapprove 16 22 12 17 16 16 DK/NA 16 16 13 17 14 18 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 73% 66% 75% 65% 64% Disapprove 10 18 15 17 17 DK/NA 17 16 10 18 19 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Richard Codey is handling his job as acting Governor? Highest Lowest Approve Approve Nov 22 Jun 15 Apr 28 Mar 17 Jan 26 Nov 22 Mar 17 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 Approve 68 51 51 50 59 68 50 Disapprove 16 22 22 24 9 16 24 DK/NA 16 26 27 26 32 16 26 2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jon Corzine is handling his job as United States Senator? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 52% 20% 76% 47% 50% 53% Disapprove 32 66 8 36 37 27 DK/NA 17 15 15 17 13 20 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 61% 52% 39% 56% 49% Disapprove 21 29 48 28 36 DK/NA 18 18 14 16 15 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jon Corzine is handling his job as United States Senator? Highest Lowest Approve Approve Nov 22 Jun 15 Apr 28 Mar 16 Jan 26 Feb 8 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2001 Approve 52 51 50 51 59 35 Disapprove 32 32 30 29 26 18 DK/NA 17 17 20 19 15 47 3. As you may know; As governor Jon Corzine will appoint someone to serve out the remaining year of his Senate term. Who would you most like to see Corzine choose to fill his Senate seat if the choices were Acting Governor Richard Codey, Congressman Rob Andrews, Congressman Robert Menendez and Congressman Frank Pallone? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Codey 43% 46% 42% 44% 41% 44% Andrews 10 7 14 8 11 9 Menendez 14 5 19 15 15 12 Pallone 8 8 9 8 9 8 SOMEONE ELSE(VOL) 4 5 1 6 6 2 DK/NA 22 29 15 19 19 24 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Codey 51% 47% 51% 25% 38% Andrews 3 2 5 42 5 Menendez 27 16 8 6 9 Pallone 6 7 5 - 22 SOMEONE ELSE(VOL) 2 3 4 5 6 DK/NA 12 25 26 22 19 4. If the 2006 election for United States Senator were being held today and the candidates were Richard Codey the Democrat and Tom Kean Jr. the Republican, for whom would you vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Codey 55% 24% 80% 51% 53% 56% Kean 32 68 9 32 35 29 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 - 2 1 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 - - 1 1 1 DK/NA 11 8 10 14 10 13 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Codey 64% 60% 36% 58% 50% Kean 20 27 54 25 38 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - 2 2 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 - 1 - 1 DK/NA 14 12 6 15 10 5. If the 2006 election for United States Senator were being held today and the candidates were Rob Andrews the Democrat and Tom Kean Jr. the Republican, for whom would you vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Andrews 38% 5% 69% 27% 37% 39% Kean 39 83 13 40 43 36 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 - 1 4 3 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) - - 1 - 1 - DK/NA 21 11 17 29 17 24 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Andrews 38% 36% 28% 60% 29% Kean 32 38 56 24 48 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - 2 1 5 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 - 1 - - DK/NA 29 25 12 15 18 6. If the 2006 election for United States Senator were being held today and the candidates were Robert Menendez the Democrat and Tom Kean Jr. the Republican, for whom would you vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Menendez 41% 5% 76% 29% 40% 43% Kean 39 84 9 43 44 34 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - - 4 2 - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 - - - 1 - DK/NA 18 10 14 25 12 23 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Menendez 59% 45% 23% 43% 34% Kean 25 35 63 30 46 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - - 2 - 5 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 1 1 - - DK/NA 15 19 11 27 15 7. If the 2006 election for United States Senator were being held today and the candidates were Frank Pallone the Democrat and Tom Kean Jr. the Republican, for whom would you vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Pallone 38% 4% 70% 27% 37% 39% Kean 38 81 11 40 40 36 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 - 2 2 - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 1 1 - 1 - DK/NA 22 13 18 31 20 24 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Pallone 39% 39% 26% 41% 42% Kean 32 36 55 29 41 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - - 3 1 2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 - 1 - - DK/NA 26 24 15 29 15 8. What is the single most important thing you would like to see Jon Corzine accomplish in the next 4 years as governor? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Reduce Corruption 6% 10% 3% 8% 8% 5% Balance budget 3 3 3 2 3 2 Lower Crime/ Increase Police 1 - 1 2 1 2 Improve Economy/Jobs 3 2 4 3 3 3 Cost of living 1 - 1 1 - 1 Improve Education 5 1 7 5 2 7 Education funding 3 - 6 2 2 4 Lower housing/ rental costs 3 2 6 1 1 4 Overdevelopment 1 1 - 1 - 1 Improve Ins - Health 5 2 8 3 2 7 Poverty/Homeless 1 1 1 - - 1 Lower Taxes - general 23 28 20 21 22 23 Lower Taxes - property 28 29 27 30 34 22 Environment/Pollution 1 1 2 1 1 1 Other 11 13 8 11 11 10 DK/NA 5 6 3 5 4 6 9. Do you think Jon Corzine will clean up corruption in state government or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 37% 12% 59% 31% 34% 40% No 50 75 29 58 58 43 DK/NA 13 13 13 11 8 17 Philly Reduce Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Corrup Q8 Yes 51% 39% 25% 36% 34% 31% No 35 47 64 51 56 57% DK/NA 14 14 10 13 10 12% 10. Do you think Jon Corzine will reduce property taxes in New Jersey or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 46% 24% 68% 38% 44% 48% No 44 66 23 53 47 42 DK/NA 9 9 9 9 9 10 Philly Lower Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore PropTx Q8 Yes 52% 51% 32% 46% 45% 54% No 39 38 61 43 47 37% DK/NA 8 11 7 11 8 8%
