June 10, 2013 - Booker Leads In First Look At New Jersey Senate Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Christie Buries Buono 2-1 PDF format Newark Mayor Cory Booker has substantial leads over relatively unknown Democratic primary and general election opponents in a first look at the New Jersey U.S. Senate race by the Quinnipiac University poll today. Mayor Booker gets 53 percent of the Democratic primary vote, with 10 percent for U.S. Rep. Rush Holt and 9 percent for U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN- uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Another 23 percent are undecided. The survey concluded Sunday night, before State Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver tossed her hat into the ring. In a general election matchup, Booker tops Republican Steve Lonegan 54 - 27 percent. Other possible matchups are closer as Pallone leads Lonegan 39 - 29 percent and Holt tops the Republican 36 - 31 percent. New Jersey voters have a 57 - 14 percent favorable opinion of Booker, while 25 percent don't know enough about him to form an opinion. The "don't know enough" measures for the other contenders are: Pallone - 68 percent; Holt - 67 percent; Lonegan - 62 percent. "It's Newark Mayor Cory Booker in a runaway in this first look at the special election to fill the U.S. Senate seat held by the late Frank Lautenberg," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Who are those other guys? The record shows that Congressmen Frank Pallone and Rush Holt are big in their districts, but, state-wide, no one knows them." "Steve Lonegan gets the close-to-one-third Republican vote against any of the other three. He's up there with Pallone and Holt on the anonymity scale," Carroll added. "Two cautionary notes: Booker has the recognition but does he have - as the two Democratic Congressmen do - an organization? What effect will State Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver have on our next poll?" Governor's Race In the New Jersey governor's race, Republican incumbent Gov. Christopher Christie leads State Sen. Barbara Buono, the Democratic challenger, 59 - 29 percent, a 2-1 margin that is virtually unchanged from Christie's 58 - 26 percent in an April 24 Quinnipiac University poll. Christie even leads 57 - 32 percent among women and 62 - 26 percent among men. New Jersey voters approve 69 - 27 percent of the job Christie is doing, again the highest job approval of any governor in the eight states surveyed by Quinnipiac University. Voters say 65 - 28 percent that Christie deserves to be reelected and give him a 63 - 27 percent favorability. Buono gets a negative 18 - 23 percent favorability, with 56 percent who don't know enough about her to form an opinion. Voters approve 33 - 26 percent of Christie's appointment of State Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa to replace Lautenberg in the U.S. Senate and approve 50 - 40 percent of the governor's decision to hold a special election in October. New Jersey voters have mixed opinions on why Christie called a special election in October, but say 62 - 29 percent that the decision was based more on politics than principle. "A choice and a voice," Gov. Christie said of the unusual election schedule, but overwhelmingly, voters say he scheduled the Senate election away from his own election because of politics, not principle," Carroll said. "Voters don't seem upset over the fortuitous timing, an August primary when everyone's at the Shore and a vote on an October Wednesday. And Christie holds his humungous lead over Sen. Barbara Buono." From June 7 - 9, Quinnipiac University surveyed 858 New Jersey voters with a margin of error of +/- 3.4 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones. The survey includes 306 Democrats with a margin of error of +/- 5.6 percentage points. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Iowa and the nation as a public service and for research. For more information, visit http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter. 1. (If Registered Democrat) If the Democratic primary for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates were Cory Booker, Rush Holt, and Frank Pallone, for whom would you vote? REGISTERED DEMOCRATS Tot Men Wom Booker 53% 57% 51% Holt 10 12 9 Pallone 9 9 8 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 2 - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 4 5 4 DK/NA 23 16 28 2. If the election for Governor were being held today, and the candidates were Barbara Buono the Democrat and Christopher Christie the Republican, for whom would you vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Buono 29% 2% 62% 18% 26% 32% Christie 59 95 25 70 62 57 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - - 1 2 - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 - 1 3 2 1 DK/NA 9 2 12 8 8 9 TREND: If the election for Governor were being held today, and the candidates were Barbara Buono the Democrat and Christopher Christie the Republican, for whom would you vote? Jun 10 Apr 24 Mar 26 Feb 20 Jan 23 Nov 28 Oct 17 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2012 2012 Buono 29 26 25 25 22 23 33 Christie 59 58 60 62 63 61 49 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 1 1 1 1 - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 DK/NA 9 13 13 12 13 14 17 3. Is your opinion of Christopher Christie favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 63% 93% 34% 71% 64% 62% Unfavorable 27 5 51 20 29 26 Hvn't hrd enough 4 2 6 2 2 5 REFUSED 6 - 9 7 6 6 TREND: Is your opinion of Christopher Christie favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? (*High also 69% Jan 2013, Feb 2013) FAVORABLE..... High Low Jun 10 Apr 24 Mar 26 Feb 20 Jan 23 Mar 26 Aug 12 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013* 2008 Favorable 63 66 69 69 69 69 21 Unfavorable 27 24 22 22 21 22 7 Hvn't hrd enough 4 5 6 6 6 6 69 REFUSED 6 4 4 3 4 4 2 4. Is your opinion of Barbara Buono favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about her? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 18% 4% 35% 13% 17% 19% Unfavorable 23 39 7 27 23 22 Hvn't hrd enough 56 56 55 57 57 56 REFUSED 3 1 3 4 4 2 TREND: Is your opinion of Barbara Buono favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about her? Jun 10 Apr 24 Mar 26 Feb 20 Jan 23 Nov 28 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2012 Favorable 18 12 10 8 8 8 Unfavorable 23 9 10 8 9 7 Hvn't hrd enough 56 78 79 83 82 84 REFUSED 3 1 1 1 - 1 5. If the election for United State Senator were being held today, and the candidates were Cory Booker the Democrat, and Steve Lonegan the Republican, for whom would you vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Booker 54% 18% 85% 50% 52% 55% Lonegan 27 70 3 25 33 23 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - - - - 1 - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 1 1 4 3 2 DK/NA 16 11 11 21 11 21 6. If the election for United State Senator were being held today, and the candidates were Frank Pallone the Democrat and Steve Lonegan the Republican, for whom would you vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Pallone 39% 6% 75% 28% 38% 39% Lonegan 29 72 3 29 34 25 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 1 - 3 3 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 4 4 3 4 3 4 DK/NA 27 17 19 36 21 32 7. If the election for United State Senator were being held today, and the candidates were Rush Holt the Democrat and Steve Lonegan the Republican, for whom would you vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Holt 36% 5% 70% 28% 36% 36% Lonegan 31 73 4 29 37 25 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 1 1 1 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 3 4 2 4 3 4 DK/NA 29 17 23 38 22 34 8. Is your opinion of Cory Booker favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 57% 44% 70% 56% 58% 57% Unfavorable 14 22 5 19 16 13 Hvn't hrd enough 25 31 23 23 23 27 REFUSED 3 4 2 3 3 3 TREND: Is your opinion of Cory Booker favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? Jun 10 Feb 21 Jan 23 Nov 28 Sep 05 2013 2013 2013 2012 2012 Favorable 57 59 54 52 49 Unfavorable 14 11 16 13 11 Hvn't hrd enough 25 28 29 33 38 REFUSED 3 1 2 1 1 9. Is your opinion of Frank Pallone favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 21% 12% 32% 19% 27% 16% Unfavorable 9 15 2 13 9 10 Hvn't hrd enough 68 73 66 67 62 74 REFUSED 1 - 1 1 1 1 10. Is your opinion of Rush Holt favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 20% 11% 32% 18% 24% 17% Unfavorable 11 18 7 10 12 11 Hvn't hrd enough 67 70 60 69 63 71 REFUSED 2 1 2 2 2 2 11. Is your opinion of Steve Lonegan favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 25% 52% 7% 27% 31% 20% Unfavorable 12 4 20 9 16 8 Hvn't hrd enough 62 44 72 62 52 71 REFUSED 1 - 1 1 1 1 TREND: Is your opinion of Steve Lonegan favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? Jun 10 May 20 Apr 22 Mar 12 Feb 04 2013 2009 2009 2009 2009 Favorable 25 19 20 15 15 Unfavorable 12 11 7 7 6 Hvn't hrd enough 62 68 72 77 78 REFUSED 1 2 1 1 1 12. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christopher Christie is handling his job as Governor? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 69% 96% 41% 78% 71% 66% Disapprove 27 3 52 18 26 27 DK/NA 5 1 8 4 4 6 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christopher Christie is handling his job as Governor? (*High also 74% Jan 2013, **Low also 44% Jun 2010) APPROVE....... High Low Jun 10 Apr 24 Mar 26 Feb 20 Jan 23 Feb 20 Jun 21 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013* 2011** Approve 69 67 70 74 74 74 44 Disapprove 27 24 23 22 21 22 47 DK/NA 5 9 7 4 5 4 10 13. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 53% 12% 88% 48% 48% 58% Disapprove 41 86 9 44 46 37 DK/NA 5 2 2 7 6 4 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? APPROVE....... High Low Jun 10 Apr 24 Mar 26 Feb 21 Jan 23 Jun 10 Oct 13 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2009 2011 Approve 53 57 54 57 58 68 43 Disapprove 41 38 42 40 39 25 52 DK/NA 5 5 4 3 3 7 5 14. Do you feel that Christopher Christie deserves to be reelected, or do you feel that he does not deserve to be reelected? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes/Deserves 65% 93% 35% 76% 66% 64% No/Does not 28 5 54 19 28 28 DK/NA 7 2 11 5 5 8 TREND: Do you feel that Christopher Christie deserves to be reelected, or do you feel that he does not deserve to be reelected? Jun 10 Apr 24 Mar 26 Feb 20 Jan 23 Nov 28 Oct 17 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2012 2012 Yes/Deserves 65 66 66 71 68 67 52 No/Does not 28 26 25 23 24 25 40 DK/NA 7 7 9 6 7 9 8 15. Do you approve or disapprove of Governor Christie's choice of Jeffrey Chiesa to replace Frank Lautenberg in the United States Senate? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 33% 52% 20% 36% 35% 32% Disapprove 26 10 43 22 31 22 DK/NA 40 38 37 42 34 46 16. Do you approve or disapprove of Governor Christie's decision to hold the special US Senate election to replace Frank Lautenberg in October? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 50% 65% 35% 55% 49% 51% Disapprove 40 25 54 36 43 37 DK/NA 10 10 11 8 8 12 17. Governor Christie says that it's important to hold the election in October so that New Jersey voters can elect a new US Senator as soon as possible. Do you agree or disagree? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Agree 58% 75% 46% 58% 55% 60% Disagree 38 22 51 38 42 35 DK/NA 4 2 4 5 3 5 18. Some people say that Governor Christie decided against holding the senate election at the same time as the election for governor because he was concerned that it might help his Democratic opponent for governor. Do you agree or disagree? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Agree 48% 37% 61% 44% 55% 41% Disagree 39 50 27 43 36 41 DK/NA 13 13 12 13 9 18 19. Do you think Governor Christie's decision to hold the senate election in October was based more on politics or more on principle? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom More on politics 62% 44% 78% 61% 66% 58% More on principle 29 45 15 30 28 30 DK/NA 9 12 8 10 6 12 Demographic Summary
