New Jersey (NJ) Poll * November 20, 2008 * Most New Jersey Voters Have Su - Quinnipiac University

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November 20, 2008 - Most New Jersey Voters Have Suffered In '08, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Most Don't Expect Things To Get Better Soon

Word format The last year has been hard on New Jersey as 59 percent of voters say they are worse off financially than they were one year ago, with 20 percent saying they're better off and 20 percent saying things are the same, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. A total of 55 percent of voters describe their personal finances as "excellent" or "good," while 43 percent say their finances are "not so good" or "poor."
And only 28 percent expect their personal finances to get better in the next year, while 22 percent expect them to get worse and 45 percent say things won't change, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.
But the economy will get better by the end of President-elect Barack Obama's first term, 66 percent believe. That includes 41 percent of Republican voters, 86 percent of percent of Democrats and 64 percent of independent voters. When New Jersey voters are asked how long it will take to solve the nation's economic crisis:
2 percent say one year; 12 percent say two years; 10 percent say three years; 12 percent say four years; 11 percent say five years; 14 percent say eight years; 10 percent say 10 years.

"The economic picture in New Jersey is bleak: six in 10 voters say they are worse off financially than a year ago; even more are worried about their retirement; more than half say they have lost 'a lot' of money in their retirement plan; 41 percent are worried about losing their jobs and most plan to spend less this holiday season," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
"While only about a quarter think things will be better next year, there is broad optimism the Obama administration will be able to fix the nation's economic problems. More than a third say recovery will come in President-elect Obama's first term while about another third say it will take two terms. Almost 20 percent say recovery will take 10 years or more," Richards added.
Among the 62 percent of New Jersey voters working full or part time, 41 percent are "very worried" or "somewhat worried" about losing their job. Other concerns are:
65 percent are worried about having enough money to live on when they retire; Of the 92 percent who have health care coverage, 35 percent are worried about losing it; Of the 74 percent who own their home, 20 percent are worried about losing it. Also because of the economy: 58 percent of voters plan to spend less on holiday gifts; 42 percent of those who haven't retired plan to delay their retirement.
From November 13 - 17, Quinnipiac University surveyed 2,020 New Jersey registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.2 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 or RSS feed: http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, or call (203) 582-5201.
20. Would you describe the state of your own personal finances these days as: Excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Excellent 6% 8% 4% 5% 8% 4% 7% 3% Good 49 51 48 52 53 46 51 38 Not so good 30 31 31 29 29 32 30 31 Poor 13 9 16 13 10 16 10 27 DK/NA 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Excellent 5% 7% 6% 4% 6% Good 39 54 59 45 47 Not so good 34 29 23 34 31 Poor 20 8 11 17 15 DK/NA 1 1 2 1 1 AGE IN YRS INCOME............. <50 50+ <50 50-100 >100K Excellent 6% 6% 2% 4% 12% Good 50 49 32 53 68 Not so good 30 31 38 38 16 Poor 14 13 28 5 3 DK/NA - 2 1 - -
21. Would you say that you are better off or worse off financially than you were a year ago?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Better off 20% 15% 25% 18% 23% 17% 15% 41% Worse off 59 65 54 60 57 61 62 47 SAME(VOL) 20 20 20 21 20 21 22 12 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 - Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Better off 26% 21% 15% 19% 17% Worse off 54 56 63 62 62 SAME(VOL) 19 22 21 19 20 DK/NA 1 1 1 - 1 AGE IN YRS INCOME............. <50 50+ <50 50-100 >100K Better off 30% 10% 14% 24% 25% Worse off 53 63 62 58 56 SAME(VOL) 16 25 23 18 18 DK/NA - 1 - - -
TREND: Would you say that you are better off or worse off financially than you were a year ago?
Nov 20 Jun 22 Mar 9 Apr 2 2008 2004 2004 2003 Better off 20 36 38 32 Worse off 59 37 37 43 SAME(VOL) 20 25 23 24 DK/NA 1 2 2 2
22. During the next 12 months, do you think your own personal finances will get better, get worse, or stay about the same?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Get better 28% 21% 36% 27% 31% 26% 20% 59% Get worse 22 30 17 22 19 25 26 7 Stay the same 45 46 43 46 47 43 49 32 DK/NA 5 4 5 5 3 6 5 2 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Get better 39% 28% 20% 28% 29% Get worse 13 24 28 25 20 Stay the same 43 43 47 44 47 DK/NA 5 5 5 4 5 AGE IN YRS INCOME............. <50 50+ <50 50-100 >100K Get better 36% 22% 31% 29% 26% Get worse 21 23 21 23 24 Stay the same 41 48 42 46 48 DK/NA 2 6 6 3 2
TREND: During the next 12 months, do you think your own personal finances will get better, get worse, or stay about the same? (* financial situation)
Nov 20 Feb 21 Oct 18 2008 2008* 2001* Get better 28 23 35 Get worse 22 20 8 Stay the same 45 55 54 DK/NA 5 2 3
23. By the end of Barack Obama's term in office, do you expect the economy to be better than it is today, worse than it is today, or about the same?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Better 66% 41% 86% 64% 64% 67% 61% 88% Worse 11 26 2 11 12 11 15 1 Same 17 24 10 19 18 16 18 9 DK/NA 6 8 2 7 6 6 6 2 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Better 74% 68% 56% 66% 64% Worse 5 10 19 10 13 Same 15 17 18 19 16 DK/NA 6 4 7 5 7
24. Do you think the Obama administration will be able to solve the nation's economic crisis or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 51% 25% 74% 46% 48% 53% 45% 74% No 36 63 15 39 40 34 41 14 DK/NA 13 12 11 14 12 13 14 12 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes 60% 54% 39% 52% 48% No 25 35 50 34 40 DK/NA 15 12 11 14 12
25. About how many years will it take to solve the nation's economic crisis?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk 1 2% 2% 3% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2 12 10 16 11 15 10 12 16 3 10 8 11 10 12 8 10 9 4 12 13 14 9 13 11 13 12 5 11 14 7 13 11 11 11 10 6 8 8 9 8 7 9 8 8 7 3 2 2 3 2 3 2 3 8 14 13 16 13 13 15 13 18 9 - - - - - - - - 10 10 9 8 12 8 11 10 5 More than 10 years 7 7 6 8 7 7 7 8 DK/NA 11 14 8 10 10 12 13 8
26. Are you currently employed, employed part time, retired, not working but looking for a job or not working and not looking for a job?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Employed 53% 53% 55% 52% 64% 44% 52% 54% Part time 9 10 10 9 6 12 9 9 Retired 22 26 20 22 19 25 27 12 Looking 6 4 7 7 6 7 4 12 Not looking 6 5 6 8 3 10 6 9 DK/NA 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 4 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Employed 52% 57% 56% 52% 46% Part time 11 9 7 9 13 Retired 19 22 22 23 25 Looking 10 5 5 7 7 Not looking 5 5 9 7 7 DK/NA 3 2 1 2 3 AGE IN YRS INCOME............. <50 50+ <50 50-100 >100K Employed 65% 42% 29% 63% 78% Part time 14 5 13 10 5 Retired 1 43 38 15 7 Looking 8 5 11 5 2 Not looking 9 4 6 6 7 DK/NA 2 2 3 1 1
27. (If working full or part time q26) Because of what's going on in the economy today, how worried are you about losing your job - Very worried, somewhat worried, not too worried, or not worried at all?
WORKING Q26......................................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Very worried 14% 13% 15% 13% 13% 15% 12% 17% Smwht worried 27 28 27 28 27 27 26 27 Not too worried 27 22 31 26 26 28 28 27 Not worried at all 31 38 27 32 33 30 33 29 DK/NA - - 1 1 - 1 1 - Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Very worried 14% 12% 11% 19% 16% Smwht worried 31 25 30 25 28 Not too worried 25 29 26 27 26 Not worried at all 30 33 33 29 30 DK/NA - 1 1 - - AGE IN YRS INCOME............. <50 50+ <50 50-100 >100K Very worried 16% 10% 21% 14% 11% Smwht worried 26 29 25 30 25 Not too worried 27 27 30 25 26 Not worried at all 30 33 23 31 38 DK/NA - - - - 1
28. (All except retired q26) Do you have a 401k or some other type of retirement plan?
ALL EXCEPT RETIRED Q26.............................. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 71% 80% 66% 70% 75% 67% 74% 57% No 28 20 34 29 24 32 24 41 DK/NA 1 - 1 1 1 1 1 2 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes 60% 79% 79% 66% 63% No 39 20 20 33 36 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 AGE IN YRS INCOME............. <50 50+ <50 50-100 >100K Yes 65% 79% 41% 76% 91% No 34 19 57 24 9 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 -
29. (If retired q26) Are you living on some kind of retirement plan?
RETIRED Q26.................................. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Yes 69% 67% 64% 75% 75% 65% 72% No 29 31 34 22 22 33 26 DK/NA 2 2 1 3 3 2 2
30. (If have retirement plan - Retired or Not) Because of what's going on in the economy today has that plan lost money in the last year?
RETIREMENT PLAN Q28 or Q29.......................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 80% 82% 74% 84% 82% 78% 80% 70% No 17 15 22 12 16 17 16 24 DK/NA 4 2 4 4 3 5 4 6 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes 81% 78% 84% 76% 80% No 14 18 13 20 16 DK/NA 5 4 3 3 4 AGE IN YRS INCOME............. <50 50+ <50 50-100 >100K Yes 87% 73% 60% 81% 93% No 10 23 33 15 7 DK/NA 3 5 7 4 -
31. (If yes q30) Would you say your plan has lost a lot of money, some money, or only a little money?
LOST MONEY Q30............................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht A lot 56% 55% 53% 59% 56% 55% 55% Some 33 31 36 30 32 33 33 Only a little 10 14 9 10 11 10 10 DK/NA 1 1 1 2 1 2 2 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore A lot 57% 58% 53% 55% 52% Some 35 31 32 36 31 Only a little 7 9 13 8 15 DK/NA - 1 2 1 2 AGE IN YRS INCOME............. <50 50+ <50 50-100 >100K A lot 56% 55% 47% 55% 61% Some 33 32 41 35 28 Only a little 10 11 11 9 10 DK/NA 1 2 1 - -
32. (If have retirement plan - Retired or Not) Because of what's going on in the economy today have you had to borrow or take money out of that retirement plan to make ends meet?
RETIREMENT PLAN Q28 or Q29.......................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 14% 14% 14% 14% 11% 16% 12% 18% No 85 85 85 85 88 82 87 79 DK/NA 2 1 2 2 1 2 2 3 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes 15% 12% 15% 14% 14% No 83 86 85 84 84 DK/NA 2 2 - 2 2 AGE IN YRS INCOME............. <50 50+ <50 50-100 >100K Yes 11% 16% 25% 12% 7% No 88 83 73 87 92 DK/NA 1 2 2 1 1
33. Do you own or rent your home?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Own 74% 84% 63% 77% 76% 71% 81% 40% Rent 22 13 33 16 19 24 14 55 OTHER(VOL) 4 2 3 5 4 4 4 5 DK/NA 1 - 1 1 1 1 1 - Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Own 54% 77% 83% 76% 75% Rent 41 20 12 20 18 OTHER(VOL) 5 2 4 4 5 DK/NA 1 1 - - 3 AGE IN YRS INCOME............. <50 50+ <50 50-100 >100K Own 64% 82% 51% 81% 92% Rent 29 16 42 16 6 OTHER(VOL) 6 2 6 3 2 DK/NA 1 - 1 - -
34. Because of what's going on in the economy today, have you lost your home?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 2% 1% 1% No 97 98 96 97 98 96 98 94 DK/NA 2 1 2 1 1 2 1 5
35. (If own home and not lost home)Because of what's going on in the economy today how worried are you about losing that home - very worried, somewhat worried, not too worried, or not worried at all?
HOME OWNER Q34............................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Very worried 5% 5% 5% 5% 3% 7% 4% Smwht worried 15 13 18 14 15 16 14 Not too worried 24 23 25 25 24 24 22 Not worried at all 55 59 51 55 57 53 59 DK/NA - - - 1 - - - Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Very worried 8% 2% 5% 9% 6% Smwht worried 22 13 14 18 14 Not too worried 34 25 20 21 22 Not worried at all 35 59 61 53 57 DK/NA - 1 - - 1 AGE IN YRS INCOME............. <50 50+ <50 50-100 >100K Very worried 5% 5% 12% 5% 2% Smwht worried 17 14 24 15 11 Not too worried 31 19 14 29 26 Not worried at all 46 62 49 50 62 DK/NA - - - - -
36. This year are you going to spend more on holiday gifts, less or about the same?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk More 3% 1% 4% 2% 3% 3% 1% 7% Less 58 55 60 58 49 65 57 55 Same 37 41 34 38 45 30 39 36 DK/NA 2 3 2 2 2 2 3 2
37. (If more q36) Would you say a lot more, somewhat more, or only a little more? (* Additional caution should be taken when interpreting the findings of group because of the larger margin of error.)
SPEND MORE Q36 Tot* A lot 22% Smwht 41 Only a little 38 DK/NA -
38. (If less q36) Would you say a lot less, somewhat less, or only a little less?
SPEND LESS Q36....................................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk A lot 43% 40% 46% 40% 39% 45% 38% 57% Smwht 39 40 38 42 41 38 43 35 Only a little 17 18 15 18 18 16 17 8 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 -
39. Because of what's going on in the economy today, how worried are you that you will not have enough money to live on in retirement - Very worried, somewhat worried, not too worried, or not worried at all?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Very worried 28% 24% 29% 29% 23% 33% 25% 33% Smwht worried 37 38 34 39 36 37 39 27 Not too worried 20 19 23 17 21 18 20 19 Not worried at all 15 17 13 14 19 11 14 18 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 AGE IN YRS INCOME............. <50 50+ <50 50-100 >100K Very worried 30% 26% 37% 29% 20% Smwht worried 34 39 32 36 40 Not too worried 22 18 15 21 25 Not worried at all 13 16 14 14 15 DK/NA 1 1 2 - -
40. (All except retired q26) Because of what's going on in the economy today, are you planning on delaying your retirement?
ALL EXCEPT RETIRED Q26.............................. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 42% 37% 42% 45% 37% 47% 42% 38% No 49 55 48 47 55 43 49 51 DK/NA 9 8 9 8 9 9 9 11 AGE IN YRS INCOME............. <50 50+ <50 50-100 >100K Yes 34% 54% 52% 44% 35% No 55 40 38 49 59 DK/NA 11 6 11 8 6
41. Are you now covered by some kind of health insurance plan?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 92% 95% 90% 93% 91% 93% 94% 86% No 7 5 9 7 8 7 6 14 DK/NA - - 1 - 1 - - - Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes 89% 95% 91% 91% 92% No 10 5 8 8 8 DK/NA 1 - - 1 - AGE IN YRS INCOME............. <50 50+ <50 50-100 >100K Yes 89% 95% 83% 96% 99% No 10 5 16 4 1 DK/NA 1 - 1 - -
42. (If yes q41)Because of what's going on in the economy today how worried are you about losing your health care coverage - Very worried, somewhat worried, not too worried, or not worried at all?
HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE Q41............................ Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Very worried 13% 11% 14% 13% 11% 15% 10% 13% Smwht worried 22 21 22 24 22 22 22 20 Not too worried 26 25 27 27 24 28 27 25 Not worried at all 38 43 37 35 42 35 40 42 DK/NA 1 1 - 1 1 1 1 - AGE IN YRS INCOME............. <50 50+ <50 50-100 >100K Very worried 12% 13% 22% 12% 7% Smwht worried 20 24 23 23 18 Not too worried 29 23 24 29 27 Not worried at all 38 39 31 36 48 DK/NA 1 1 1 - 1