New Jersey (NJ) Poll * July 9, 2007 * NJ Voters Back Sales Tax/Prope - Quinnipiac University

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July 9, 2007 - NJ Voters Back Sales Tax/Property Tax Shift More Than 2-1, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Strong Support For Stem Cell Research

Word format By a 66 - 25 percent margin, New Jersey voters support a constitutional amendment dedicating another one-half of 1 percent of sales tax to property tax relief, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Support is consistent among Democrats, Republicans and independent voters.
By a smaller 49 - 39 percent margin, New Jersey voters support a November ballot issue authorizing the state to borrow $450 million for stem cell research, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.
New Jersey voters support embryonic stem cell research 71 - 19 percent and support 65 - 25 percent New Jersey becoming one of the most active states in the nation in embryonic stem cell research. Republicans support embryonic stem cell research 52 - 39 percent, while Democrats support it 79 - 10 percent and independent voters support it 76 - 15 percent.
"New Jersey voters support stem cell research by overwhelming margins and seem anxious to make their state a leader in this area," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
"Voters disapprove 68 - 23 percent of President Bush's veto of a bill providing federal funds for such research. But they are a little more fiscally cautious, approving 49 - 39 percent, the referendum on the November ballot to borrow $450 million for stem cell research.
"Voters have gotten a taste of property tax relief and are clearly saying they want more by dedicating all of last year's one percent state sales tax hike to sweeten the pot."
"Support for leasing the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway is slim, dropping to 31 percent in the latest poll while 54 percent disapprove," Richards added.
New Jersey voters approve 48 - 39 percent of the job Gov. Jon Corzine is doing, compared to 51 - 36 percent April 18. In this latest survey, Republicans disapprove of the Governor 60 - 28 percent, while Democrats approve 64 - 22 percent and independent voters approve 45 - 41 percent. Sen. Frank Lautenberg
Sen. Frank Lautenberg gets a 41 - 32 percent approval; Republicans disapprove 49 - 31 percent while Democrats approve 55 - 14 percent and independent voters split 36 - 37 percent.
Only 31 percent of New Jersey voters say Sen. Lautenberg deserves to be reelected in 2008, while 42 percent say he doesn't deserve to be reelected.
But 40 percent of voters say they would vote for Lautenberg if his reelection were today, with 33 percent who say they would vote for an unnamed Republican candidate. Democrats would go with the incumbent 77 - 7 percent, while Republicans would stay with their party 74 - 7 percent. Independent voters tend to back the unnamed Republican 34 - 30 percent.
Lautenberg, 83, "is too old to effectively serve another six-year term as U.S. Senator," 54 percent of voters say, while 40 percent say he is not too old. Even Democrats say 48 - 44 percent Lautenberg is too old, while Republicans say 62 - 35 percent he is too old and independent voters say 53 - 41 percent the incumbent is too old.
"This poll suggests that if Republicans field a strong candidate, Sen. Frank Lautenberg could be in trouble. But since no strong challenger has appeared so far on the horizon, and since 2008 is a presidential year, New Jersey's strong Democratic traditions could keep the Senator in office," Richards said.
From June 26 - July 2, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,604 New Jersey voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio and nationally as a public service and for research. For more data -- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x271.xml, or call (203) 582-5201.
22. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jon Corzine is handling his job as Governor?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 48% 28% 64% 45% 49% 47% Disapprove 39 60 22 41 42 36 DK/NA 13 11 14 14 9 17 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 57% 48% 44% 50% 42% Disapprove 25 38 48 34 48 DK/NA 18 15 8 17 10
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jon Corzine is handling his job as Governor?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Jul 9 Apr 18 Feb 28 Jan 24 Dec 7 Apr 18 Apr 26 2007 2007 2007 2007 2006 2007 2006 Approve 48 51 50 42 49 51 35 Disapprove 39 36 34 42 32 36 42 DK/NA 13 13 16 16 19 13 23
23. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 30% 22% 45% 23% 31% 29% Disapprove 52 66 34 59 58 46 DK/NA 18 12 21 18 11 25 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 35% 35% 20% 30% 26% Disapprove 38 49 61 51 59 DK/NA 27 16 19 19 15
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Jul 9 Apr 18 Feb 28 Jan 24 Dec 7 Jan 26 Jul 14 2007 2007 2007 2007 2006 2005 2006 Approve 30 32 31 27 31 44 20 Disapprove 52 49 52 54 50 31 71 DK/NA 18 19 17 19 19 25 10
24. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Frank Lautenberg is handling his job as United States Senator?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 41% 31% 55% 36% 43% 39% Disapprove 32 49 14 37 36 27 DK/NA 28 21 31 27 20 34 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 44% 42% 38% 38% 41% Disapprove 26 33 34 30 32 DK/NA 30 25 28 32 27
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Frank Lautenberg is handling his job as United States Senator? * - also 55% on 9/23/1999 & 7/22/1999
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Jul 9 Apr 18 Feb 28 Jan 25 Dec 7 Jul 27 Feb 28 2007 2007 2007 2007 2006 2000 * 2007 Approve 41 47 40 44 44 55 40 Disapprove 32 29 32 32 33 22 32 DK/NA 28 24 28 24 23 23 28
25. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Robert Menendez is handling his job as United States Senator?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 31% 16% 48% 25% 31% 30% Disapprove 39 59 21 42 45 34 DK/NA 31 25 31 33 24 37 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 36% 28% 30% 30% 32% Disapprove 29 43 44 35 37 DK/NA 34 29 26 35 31
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Robert Menendez is handling his job as United States Senator? * also 39% on 3/20/06 ** also 31% on 7/17/06
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Jul 9 Apr 18 Feb 28 Jan 25 Dec 7 Dec 7 Jul 9 2007 2007 2007 2007 2006 2006 * 2007 ** Approve 31 34 34 36 39 39 31 Disapprove 39 36 35 33 37 37 39 DK/NA 31 30 31 31 24 24 31
27. Looking ahead to the 2008 election for United States Senator, do you feel that Frank Lautenberg deserves to be reelected, or do you feel that he does not deserve to be reelected?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 31% 18% 46% 26% 34% 28% No 42 66 22 48 49 37 DK/NA 27 16 33 26 17 35 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes 33% 35% 28% 25% 31% No 33 41 49 44 45 DK/NA 34 25 23 31 24
28. If the 2008 election for United States Senator were being held today, do you think you would vote for Frank Lautenberg the Democratic candidate or the Republican candidate?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Lautenberg 40% 7% 77% 30% 37% 43% Republican 33 74 7 34 41 27 DEPENDS ON CAND(VOL) 14 14 6 19 13 14 DK/NA 13 4 9 18 9 16 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Lautenberg 50% 44% 29% 41% 36% Republican 23 32 42 33 37 DEPENDS ON CAND(VOL) 12 12 17 14 14 DK/NA 15 12 12 11 13
29. At age 83, do you think Frank Lautenberg is too old to effectively serve another 6 year term as United States Senator, or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 54% 62% 48% 53% 53% 55% No 40 35 44 41 42 39 DK/NA 6 4 7 6 5 7 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes 49% 52% 55% 52% 60% No 46 40 40 42 36 DK/NA 5 8 4 6 4
35. Do you support or oppose selling or leasing the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway as a way of reducing New Jersey's debt and possibly providing money for tax relief?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 31% 29% 36% 27% 30% 31% Oppose 54 59 47 58 59 50 DK/NA 15 12 17 15 11 19 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Support 31% 30% 29% 36% 29% Oppose 53 53 56 50 60 DK/NA 16 17 15 14 11
TREND: Do you support or oppose selling or leasing the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway as a way of reducing New Jersey's debt and possibly providing money for tax relief?
Jul 9 Feb 28 Jan 24 2007 2007 2007 Support 31 34 34 Oppose 54 56 53 DK/NA 15 10 12
36. As you may know, New Jersey voters will be asked this fall to approve a constitutional amendment dedicating another one half of 1 percent of the state sales tax revenue to property tax relief. Do you support or oppose this constitutional amendment?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 66% 63% 70% 67% 66% 67% Oppose 25 30 21 24 28 22 DK/NA 9 7 9 9 6 11 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Support 68% 62% 70% 68% 68% Oppose 21 28 24 23 24 DK/NA 12 10 6 8 8
37. In general, do you support or oppose embryonic stem cell research?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 71% 52% 79% 76% 70% 71% Oppose 19 39 10 15 21 18 DK/NA 10 9 10 9 9 11 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Support 69% 70% 75% 66% 75% Oppose 16 18 20 23 20 DK/NA 16 12 5 11 5
38. As you may know, Congress passed a bill to expand federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. President Bush recently vetoed this bill. Do you approve or disapprove of President Bush's veto of this bill?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 23% 47% 10% 18% 25% 21% Disapprove 68 45 81 73 69 68 DK/NA 9 8 8 9 6 11 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 17% 21% 29% 26% 22% Disapprove 65 69 66 69 71 DK/NA 18 10 5 5 7
39. As you may know, there will be a referendum that will be on this November's ballot authorizing the state government to borrow 450 million dollars for stem cell research? Do you support or oppose this referendum?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 49% 31% 63% 50% 51% 47% Oppose 39 58 25 38 40 37 DK/NA 12 11 12 12 8 15 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Support 48% 49% 53% 46% 49% Oppose 34 37 40 44 39 DK/NA 18 13 7 10 12
40. Do you support or oppose New Jersey becoming one of the most active states in the nation supporting embryonic stem cell research?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 65% 45% 77% 69% 67% 63% Oppose 25 47 14 19 24 25 DK/NA 10 8 9 11 8 12 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Support 63% 66% 68% 61% 68% Oppose 22 23 25 29 26 DK/NA 15 11 7 10 7