Clinton Up, But Giuliani Slips In New Jersey Primaries, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters Want A Tough Stand On Illegal Immigrants

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New York Sen. Hillary Clinton has increased her Democratic presidential primary lead in New Jersey while former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani has seen his Republican primary lead shrink, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. But both front-runners remain deadlocked in a one-on-one matchup.

Among Democrats, Sen. Clinton leads Illinois Sen. Barack Obama 51 - 17 percent, with 7 percent for former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards. This compares to a 46 - 20 percent Clinton lead over Obama in an October 17 poll by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University.

Giuliani leads Arizona Sen. John McCain 38 - 12 percent, with 8 percent for former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, 7 percent for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and 4 percent for former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson. This compares to a 48 - 12 percent Giuliani lead over McCain October 17.

In a presidential showdown, Clinton gets 45 percent to Giuliani's 44 percent, unchanged from a 44 - 44 percent tie October 17.

"New Jersey voters know the girl and boy next door, Sen. Hillary Clinton and Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, and apparently are sticking with them. There's no Oprah bump in Sen. Barack Obama's numbers and the Huckabee factor is minor in the Republican race, where Sen. John McCain is the second place contender," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"But Giuliani has slipped 10 points among Republicans and those votes seem to have bypassed McCain and gone to Gov. Huckabee."

"If Clinton and Giuliani are the nominees, the outlook right now is for a real horse race in normally Democratic New Jersey," Richards added.

Immigration

New Jersey voters say 65 - 27 percent that immigration reform should focus on stricter enforcement of laws against illegal immigrants, rather than on integrating these immigrants into American society.

Even if they agree with a presidential candidate on all other issues, 25 percent of New Jersey voters say they would vote against that candidate if he/she disagreed on immigration policy.

Illegal immigrants take jobs that no one else wants, 62 percent of voters say, while 28 percent say these immigrants take jobs from Americans who need them.

Legal immigrants do more to help the country, voters say 74 - 17 percent, but illegal immigrants do more to hurt the country, voters say 67 - 24 percent.

But voters say 63 - 32 percent that the children of illegal immigrants should be allowed to attend public schools.

"New Jersey voters want to see stronger enforcement of laws against illegal immigrants, even though they think they take jobs that most legal workers don't want and favor allowing their children to go to public schools," Richards said.

Bush Approval

New Jersey voters disapprove 67 - 26 percent of the job President George W. Bush is doing, compared to an all-time low 74 - 21 percent disapproval July 5.

From December 5 - 9, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,085 New Jersey voters with a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points. The survey includes 320 Republicans, with a margin of error of +/- 5.5 percentage points, and 387 Democrats with a margin of error of +/- 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.

1. (If registered Democrat) If the 2008 Democratic primary for President were being held today, and the candidates were Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich, Barack Obama, and Bill Richardson, for whom would you vote?

TREND: (If registered Democrat) If the 2008 Democratic primary for President were being held today and the candidates were Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich, Barack Obama, and Bill Richardson, for whom would you vote? (na = not asked)

2. (If registered Republican) If the 2008 Republican primary for President were being held today, and the candidates were Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, Duncan Hunter, John McCain, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Tom Tancredo and Fred Thompson for whom would you vote?

TREND: (If registered Republican) If the 2008 Republican primary for President were being held today and the candidates were Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, Duncan Hunter, John McCain, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Tom Tancredo, and Fred Thompson, for whom would you vote? (na = not asked)

3. If the 2008 election for President were being held today, and the candidates were Hillary Clinton the Democrat and Rudy Giuliani the Republican, for whom would you vote?

TREND: If the 2008 election for President were being held today and the candidates were Hillary Clinton the Democrat and Rudy Giuliani the Republican, for whom would you vote?

4. Is your opinion of -- Hillary Clinton favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about her? TREND: Is your opinion of Hillary Clinton favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about her? 5. Is your opinion of -- Rudy Giuliani favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? TREND: Is your opinion of Rudy Giuliani favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? 10. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as President? TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as President? 23. Overall, do you think legal immigrants do more to help the country or do more to hurt the country?

24. Overall, do you think illegal immigrants do more to help the country or do more to hurt the country?

25. Do you think immigration reform should primarily move in the direction of integrating illegal immigrants into American society or in the direction of stricter enforcement of laws against illegal immigration?

26. If you agreed with a presidential candidate on other issues, but completely disagreed on the issue of illegal immigration, do you think you could still vote for that candidate or not?

27. Do you think illegal immigrants mostly take jobs that nobody wants or do they mostly take jobs away from Americans who need them?

28. Do you think the children of illegal immigrants should or should not be allowed to attend public schools?