McCain Inches Past Giuliani In New Jersey GOP Horse Race, Quinnipiac University Likely Voter Poll Finds; Clinton Has 49 Percent Of Dem Voters, Big Lead Over Obama

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It's a game of inches in the New Jersey presidential race as Arizona Sen. John McCain gets 29 percent to former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani's 26 percent among likely Republican presidential primary voters, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has 14 percent, with 9 percent each for former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, who dropped out yesterday.

Among Democratic likely primary voters, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton leads Illinois Sen. Barack Obama 49 - 32 percent, with 10 percent for former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards.

This is the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll's first survey in this election cycle of New Jersey's likely voters, a more select group than the wider range of registered voters surveyed in prior polls.

Sen. Obama leads among black Democratic likely primary voters 62 - 27 percent, while Sen. Clinton leads among whites 54 - 23 percent. Clinton also leads 54 - 28 percent among women and 44 - 36 percent among men.

"With the momentum all in Sen. McCain's direction, New Jersey Republicans appear to be switching from the hero of 9/11 to the hero of Vietnam," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Mayor Giuliani is fighting for his political life in New Jersey and Sen. McCain could deny him victory in one of the Mayor's must win states.

"Although Sen. Obama has picked up some strength in New Jersey, Sen. Clinton appears to be maintaining the sizable lead she needs for a Super Tuesday string of victories in her Northeast strongholds," Richards added.

"Mayor Giuliani is on the receiving end of a one-two punch this week, as this New Jersey poll comes one day after a Quinnipiac University New York State poll found Giuliani and McCain tied at 30 percent each among likely Republican voters," Richards added.

"In a race this close, Sen. Thompson's 9 percent becomes a critical factor."

A total of 56 percent of Giuliani's Republican backers say they are "not too likely" or "not likely at all" to change their minds, compared to 43 percent of McCain supporters.

Among Democrats, 74 percent of Clinton supporters and 66 percent of Obama backers say they are not likely to change their minds.

"Democratic voters, especially Sen. Clinton's supporters, tend to be more committed to their candidates than Republicans," Richards said.

From January 15 - 22, Quinnipiac University surveyed 398 New Jersey likely Republican primary voters with a margin of error of +/- 4.9 percent, and 464 likely Democratic primary voters with a margin of error of +/- 4.6 percent.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and nationwide 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 Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich, and Barack Obama, for whom would you vote? (If undecided q1) As of today, do you lean more toward Clinton, Edwards, Gravel, Kucinich, or Obama? This table includes "Leaners". 
                        LIKELY DEM PRIMARY VOTERS..........
                        Tot     Men     Wom     Wht     Blk
 
Clinton                 49%     44%     54%     54%     27%
Edwards                 10      13       8      14       -
Gravel                   -       1       -       -       -
Kucinich                 1       1       1       1       -
Obama                   32      36      28      23      62
SMONE ELSE(VOL)          1       1       1       1       -
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)         -       -       -       -       -
DK/NA                    7       5       9       6      11
1a. (If express choice in Democratic Primary) How likely is it that you could change your mind? Very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, not likely at all? 
                        LIKELY DEM PRIMARY VOTERS
                        Tot     Clinton Obama
 
Very likely              5%      3%      3%
Smwht likely            26      22      29
Not too likely          23      23      24
Not likely at all       46      51      42
DK/NA                    1       -       1
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, and Fred Thompson, for whom would you vote? (If undecided q2) As of today, do you lean more toward Giuliani, Huckabee, Hunter, McCain, Paul, Romney, or Thompson? This table includes "Leaners". 
                        LIKELY REP PRIMARY VOTERS.......
                                                WtBrnAgn
                        Tot     Men     Wom     Evangls
 
Giuliani                26%     22%     32%     13%
Huckabee                 9      10       9      24
Hunter                   -       -       -       -
McCain                  29      31      27      24
Paul                     7      10       3       7
Romney                  14      12      17      13
Thompson                 9      11       7      13
SMONE ELSE(VOL)          -       -       1       -
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)         -       -       -       -
DK/NA                    4       4       4       5
2a.(If express choice in Republican primary) How likely is it that you could change your mind? Very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, not likely at all? 
                        LIKELY REP PRIMARY VOTERS
                        Tot     Giulian McCain
 
Very likely             10%      7%      6%
Smwht likely            39      36      48
Not too likely          22      24      21
Not likely at all       28      32      22
DK/NA                    1       1       2

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