Pollster says Daggett is a factor in race for governor

Today's poll results show independent gubernatorial candidate Christopher Daggett trailing far behind his two major party rivals, but Daggett sees reason to be optimistic.

For one, although 67% of likely voters still don't know who Daggett is, that's down from 89% in last month's FDU poll.

"That's a remarkable jump, I think, and indicative of the fact that people in New Jersey are looking for an alternative. They are not satisfied with either of the candidates in my view," said Daggett, who served as Commissioner of Environmental Protection in Gov. Thomas Kean's cabinet.

One percent of the FDU poll's respondents volunteered Daggett as their preference when asked if they preferred someone other than Governor Jon Corzine or Republican gubernatorial nominee Chris Christie.  In a Quinnipiac University poll released today, Daggett, who was included in the horse race question, gets the support of 9% of likely voters even though 87% had not heard enough about him to form an opinion.

"If I have 9% in the polls and my recognition is in the teens somewhere, that tells me when people hear about me they have a positive response," he said.  "I think what you'll see is the people as they get back from summer vacation and start to focus more -- as they see me in the debates and joint forums of one type of another -- you're going to see a change, and you're going to see it moving towards me because they're for me as opposed to against Corzine and Christie."

Quinnipiac University poll director Maurice Carroll said that Daggett gets much better numbers than the average independent or third party candidates, who tend to get a couple points by dint of voters' dissatisfaction with the two major party candidates.

"He's not going to win, but is he a factor?  Yeah. Nine points is a substantial factor," said Carroll, who added that his numbers could increase if voters like what they see in the televised debates, where Daggett - who raised the $340,000 necessary to receive public funds - gets his own podium.  It also depends on how close the race between Corzine and Christie is, since a close race between two higher profile candidates means an automatic drop off of for a candidate voters don't think can win.

Carroll said that third party and independent candidates almost always hurt the challenger - in this case Christie.  But Daggett does not see it that way.

"In the end, I don't look at it as who I'm taking away from, but with whom does my message resonate?" said Daggett.  "And I think it resonates with most voters, once my message gets out."