Monmouth/Gannett Poll: Christie has 8 point lead over Corzine

By Editor | July 16th, 2009 - 8:59am
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As New Jersey Democrats prepare for a visit from a popular President, a new Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey poll has Republican Christopher Christie leading Gov. Jon Corzine by eight points, 45%-37%, and suggests that Barack Obama's visit "may do little to help" Corzine win a second term.

Christopher Daggett, a former state Environmental Protection Commissioner running as an independent, is at 4%.

Just 54% of likely voters say they have definitely made up their minds, and if leaners are taken out of the numbers, Christie's lead goes to 37%-33% -- just a four point advantage.

Corzine's greatest problem is his favorability rating: upside-down at 38%-47%.  A January Monmouth/Gannett poll had Corzine at 49%-38%.

"There is evidence that Corzine's ratings have taken a hit from the state budget process.  On the other hand, the Democrat's decision to air an attack ad may be putting a dent in the Christie armor," said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute.  "Favorability ratings tend to be leading indicators of where an election is headed.  At this stage, these numbers can be more meaningful to the campaigns than the horse race itself."

Christie has a 43%-24% favorable rating, but Murray says "there are some warning signs that the Republican should keep an eye on. "

"While the GOP nominee's favorable rating has remained basically steady since January, his unfavorable rating has climbed by 12 points," said Murray.

Obama has a 59%-29% approval rating, but 76% of voters say their vote for governor "will be based solely on state and local issues." Just 6% of voters say they would switch their vote in the gubernatorial race if things "were going differently in Washington."  This group is "about twice as likely to be Christie voters as Corzine voters."

"At this stage of the race, it would be hard to claim that New Jersey voters view this campaign as a referendum on the Obama administration.  Still, the president's presence here could change that.  The Corzine camp's task is to make sure he activates the right group of voters," said Murray.

But Murray says Obama's appearance will help Corzine with his Democratic base.

"Jon Corzine is not doing as well among Democrats as he would like at this point.  The Obama visit is meant to link the fortunes of these two men in the minds of voters who already have a high opinion of the president, but are unenthusiastic about their governor and might sit this race out," said Murray.

 

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Quick, some freak...

Submitted by ImWithStupid on July 16, 2009 - 9:08am.

tell us Christie is losing when he is winning or how he is losing ground because he is not enough of an intolerant a-hole. Hurry.

12% increase

Submitted by PC517 on July 16, 2009 - 9:44am.

"While the GOP nominee's favorable rating has remained basically steady since January, his unfavorable rating has climbed by 12 points," said Murray." \ Maybe because he faced a tough primary challenge all spring ?? This stuff isn't that hard to figure out if these people would bother to THINK just a little.

Obama should cancel his trip

Submitted by chrisc23 on July 16, 2009 - 10:00am.

Obama's popularity is fading fast and Corzine's in the tank. It is very unwise to see Obama here. It will make VP Biden's comments true about "misreading" something. They misread Corzine and the state NJ is in!

Math is difficult for liberals....

Submitted by formaja on July 16, 2009 - 10:36am.

regardless of party affiliation it appears.

First he is up 15, then 12, then 8.....for those of you educated by our wonderful bottom third public school system.  12 is less then 15, and 8 is less then 12.  This would show a trend of Christie losing ground to Corzine.  Which based on historical FACTS (pesky word again I know) is what always happens the hand picked NJGOP hack liberal loser candidate each an every time.

Time to start working on Assembly races, Chirstie had zero chance of ever becoming the Governor of New Jersey.  By Labor day he will be either tie or down.  Mr. 35% is what he will be called by everyone by end of September.

I know I know, bitter Lonegan person, Shaftan stinks, shut up Steve, blah blah blah!  Like most liberals no facts, just feelings.  Because liberals do not think, ever!

Maybe Christie can create more Gaia worshiping fake green jobs based on a hoax.  Maybe he can give Obama a big hug on stage to demonstrate to all the liberals he thinks will vote for him how much he loves him, maybe he can clense his website of all the things that he said he stood for during the primary.  Yup, strategy is paying off, lead now cut in half.

Just keep banging your heads against the wall NJGOP, at this point it is just way too darn funny to watch.

Oh, just stop...

Submitted by roryar on July 16, 2009 - 10:40am.

Ya know, this is ridiculous. Christie expanded his lead from the previous Monmouth/ Gannet poll from 4pts in April to 8pts in July, and these pollsters are making it sound like Christie is in trouble! "There are some warning signs that the Republican should keep an eye on"--such as what? Christie's lead has went up four points even in spite of the fact that Corzine has flooded the air waves with negative attack ads for weeks.

Poll Data 1993 vs 2009

Submitted by PC517 on July 16, 2009 - 11:05am.

August 1993 Eagleton-Rutgers poll had Gov. James Florio leading Republican Christine Todd Whitman by nine points, 49%-40%; and In 1993, Florio had a favorable/unfavorable rating of 49%-40%. 31% rated his job as excellent or good, 36% said he was a fair governor, and 23% rated him as poor.

 Show us Formaja, according to the numbers only,  what is bad for Christie at this point using 1993 as an example.

 He could certainly get beat, anything can happen, but surely you have to aknowledge as the challenger he is in the a very good postion at this point. Leaving personal dislikes out of it of course...

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