New Jersey (NJ) Poll * August 7, 2001 * McGreevey Widens Lead, Close T - Quinnipiac University

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August 7, 2001 - McGreevey Widens Lead, Close To 50% In NJ Gov Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; DiFrancesco, Torricelli Approval Ratings Up


Democrat James McGreevey is brushing up against the 50-percent mark in the New Jersey governor's race and now leads Republican Bret Schundler 49 - 30 percent with 17 percent undecided, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
In a July 3 poll by the independent Quinnipiac University, just after Schundler's strong Republican primary win over Bob Franks, McGreevey led Schundler 48 - 35 percent.
In this latest poll, Democrats back McGreevey 84 - 6, while Republicans back Schundler 69 - 14 percent. Independent voters go with the Democrat 47 - 26 percent.
From July 29 - August 5, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,235 New Jersey registered voters, with a margin of error of +/- 2.8 percent.
"Summertime and the politicking is breezy for Democrat James McGreevey. He's flirting with that magic 50 percent mark that politicians say spells victory. Brett Schundler has slipped since that euphoric week after his big Republican primary win," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
"But there's still three months to the election, and who knows what surprises await us."
By a 31 - 15 percent margin, voters have a favorable opinion of McGreevey, with 19 percent mixed and 34 percent saying they don't know enough to form an opinion.
Schundler gets a 20 - 18 percent favorability rating, with 17 percent mixed and 44 percent saying they don't know enough to form an opinion.
Schundler is too conservative, 24 percent of voters say, while 5 percent say he is too liberal and 35 percent say he is "about right."
McGreevey is too liberal, 18 percent of voters say, while 5 percent say he is too conservative and 50 percent say he is "about right."
"It's that familiar New Jersey problem, lack of statewide recognition. Both candidates score high on the `haven't heard enough,' scale, where candidates want low numbers. And then there are voters who say Schundler is `too liberal' and McGreevey is `too conservative', ndicating these voters haven't been doing their homework," Carroll said.
y a 52 - 42 percent margin, New Jersey voters approve of the job George Bush is doing as President, similar to his 53 - 42 percent approval rating in a July 5 Quinnipiac University poll.
Sen. Robert Torricelli, who had a negative 37 - 35 percent approval rating in the July 5 poll, has edged back up to a 40 - 35 percent approval.
Gov. Donald DiFrancesco's approval is over 50 percent for the first time and now stands at 54 - 17 percent, with 29 percent undecided.
"No news is good news for both Gov. DiFrancesco and Sen. Torricelli. There have been few negative headlines in the last month and approval ratings, especially for the acting governor, are up," Carroll said.
The Quinnipiac University 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 Donald DiFrancesco is handling his job as acting Governor of New Jersey?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 54% 64% 48% 53% 58% 51% Disapprove 17 11 23 18 18 17 DK/NA 29 26 30 29 25 32
2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Robert Torricelli is handling his job as United States Senator?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 40% 32% 51% 37% 40% 40% Disapprove 35 46 23 37 43 29 DK/NA 25 22 26 26 17 31
3. 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 50% 38% 60% 51% 51% 49% Disapprove 21 32 13 22 24 20 DK/NA 29 30 27 28 25 32
4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as President?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 52% 89% 26% 50% 55% 51% Disapprove 42 8 68 44 41 43 DK/NA 6 3 6 7 4 6
6. Is your opinion of James McGreevey favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 31% 16% 50% 27% 33% 29% Unfavorable 15 28 3 14 16 13 Mixed 19 20 15 22 20 18 Hvn't hrd enough 34 35 30 36 29 38 REFUSED 1 1 1 1 2 1
7. Is your opinion of Bret Schundler favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 20% 36% 7% 20% 24% 16% Unfavorable 18 6 29 17 22 15 Mixed 17 19 14 18 17 17 Hvn't hrd enough 44 38 48 43 35 51 REFUSED 2 1 2 1 2 1
8. If the election for Governor were being held today, and the candidates were James McGreevey the Democrat and Bret Schundler the Republican for whom would you vote?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom McGreevey 49% 14% 84% 47% 47% 51% Schundler 30 69 6 26 35 27 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 1 1 2 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 1 1 3 2 2 DK/NA 17 15 9 23 14 19
9. Do you think Bret Schundler is more of a liberal, moderate, or conservative?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Liberal 8% 8% 8% 9% 9% 8% Moderate 21 27 16 20 22 20 Conservative 35 35 37 36 41 31 DK/NA 35 30 38 34 28 41
10. Do you think Bret Schundler is too liberal, too conservative, or about right?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Too liberal 5% 5% 6% 3% 6% 5% Too conservative 24 12 31 26 27 21 About right 35 55 23 33 39 32 DK/NA 36 28 40 37 28 43
11. Do you think James McGreevey is more of a liberal, moderate, or conservative?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Liberal 32% 49% 24% 29% 36% 29% Moderate 33 18 42 37 34 32 Conservative 10 9 11 10 11 9 DK/NA 25 23 23 25 19 30
12. Do you think James McGreevey is too liberal, too conservative, or about right?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Too liberal 18% 41% 4% 16% 23% 15% Too conservative 5 4 6 6 6 4 About right 50 29 67 53 52 50 DK/NA 26 26 23 26 19 31