A new Monmouth University Poll has incumbent Democrat Frank Pallone up by 12 points over Tea Party backed Republican Anna Little in the race for the 6th District Congressional seat.

According to the poll, Pallone leads 53% to 41% over Little.

“A 12 point lead may look comfortable, but not when you consider the fact that Pallone regularly wins reelection by more than 30 points,” said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute.  “District demographics are the key to this race.  Little does well in independent-minded parts of the district.  The question is whether it will be enough to overcome the built-in Democratic advantage here.”

In the Monmouth County portion of the district, the two candidates are basically tied, with Pallone pulling in 49% to Little's 47%.  But in the portion of the district that includes Middlesex and Union Counties, Pallone is running away with the race by a 25 percentage point margin - 58% to 33%.

The poll showed that Little is resonating among self-identified independent voters, scoring a 13 point advantage.  But that is not enough to overcome the Democrats  two to one registration advantage in the district.

In personal ratings, Pallone scores 48% favorable to 32% unfavorable.  By comparison, 33% of voters give Little a favorable rating and 22% have an unfavorable opinion. Nearly half of respondents had no opinion on the Highlands Borough Mayor. Pallone’s job performance rating among likely voters in the district stands at 46% approve to 36% disapprove.