Republican pollster Kellyanne Conway today released a statewide poll of 500 registered New Jersey voters showing Gov. Jon Corzine unable to reach 50 percent in head-to-head contests with each of three Republican candidates, even as a generic Democrat running statewide still beats a Republican candidate by eight points.
The survey also defines the economy and taxes as by far the most important issues for voters in this gubernatorial election year, suggesting a Republican candidate who can corner a message on those issues could make it a close race for the incumbent governor.
“Corzine begins 2009 with a respectable, albeit soft, base of support, as 42 percent of those surveyed say they would definitely (11 percent) or probably (31 percent) vote for him,” said Conway, president & CEO of the polling company™, inc./ WomanTrend.
“But those who have already decided to oppose him outnumber the solidly committed by 2-to-1 (22 percent-11 percent) and 50 percent of voters said their decision about Corzine depends on who his general election opponent is,” she added. “The ability of the GOP field to define themselves and raise doubts about Corzine’s leadership will help decide the outcome.”
To a Conway question about what the most important issues are in New Jersey, 39 percent of voter respondents said the economy, 21 percent said taxes, 13 percent said jobs, seven percent said government spending, five percent said corruption, four percent said education, four percent said healthcare, two percent income taxes, two percent immigration, one percent crime, and zero percent transportation/roads.
In her polling, Conway broke those issues down among different ethnic, gender and geographic groups. The economy, property taxes and jobs (in that order of importance) dominated the concerns of all: men, women, North Jersey residents, South Jersey residents, Central Jersey residents, whites and blacks.
In a white voter-black voter comparison, education snared 12 percent of black voters as the most important issue compared to two percent for whites. Among black voters, immigration (six percent) and crime (four percent) compared to two and one percent respectively among white voters.
Garden State Equality fires new broadside at Dems Smarting over the state Senate's refusal to pass marriage equality and disillusioned at the moment with the Democratic Party majority, Garden State Equality’s 85-member Board of Directors unanimously decided against giving financial contributions to political parties and their affiliated committees. ...
“We will work harder and smarter to protect consumers, to preserve civil rights, to effectively regulate the alcoholic beverage industry, to ensure that the integrity of New Jersey’s casino gaming industry continues, to keep drives, passengers and pedestrians safe on our streets, to assist victims of crimes, and to remember always the importance of juvenile justice on issues affecting the state." -- Attorney General-designate Paula Dow, at her Senate confirmation hearing.
- PolitickerNJ.com, 02/08/10Press releases are submitted by PolitickerNJ users, not by staff. They do not represent the viewpoint of PolitickerNJ.com.
Generic wins?
Good news for a primary challenger to Corzine
It IS the Economy, Stupid!
The number one issue has been the economy and Corzine's been a disaster. I know what Steve Lonegan stands for economically - he is a solid fiscal conservative in favor of smaller government and lower taxes and he has spoken and written about this extensively in his book, on his website and in his taxpayer minutes and AFP appearances. I like that. A whole lot.
I would love to hear what Chris Christie has to say about his economic positions, if only he would tell us. . .
"I figure people drift toward liberalism at a young age, and I always hope that they change when they see how the world really is.”
- Johnny Ramone
I am waiting for Christie to speak, too
My two gripes with Lonegan are his social values crap and his insistence on not merging of small towns. I do feel bad that he has no chance in Primary. Some of it is his persona and much is that the Establishment has the deck stacked.
Lonegan's Persona
It's interesting. I live in South Jersey and there are some very active Lonegoons here. I'd say 6-18 mos ago, a lot of Republican's down here were interested in Steve. But he's changed. There is something more harsh, negative and, well, unappealing about him lately and it's very noticeable. I was told this by a relative up in Morris who attended one of his recent get togethers. Wasn't sure I understood what he meant, so I went to one down this way. I now understand. It certainly didn't help that a few of Lonegan's campaign staff spoke...they were simply awful. But Steve 2009 isn't Steve 2007. It's like he believes a little too much in himself. Ronald Reagan was confident, but humble. Steve seems arrogant bordering on messianic. I think he's misreading the mood. He wants angry when what we have is scared.
People should be angry!
If you know anything about economics (and if you don't, I suggest reading Henry Hazlitt's "Economics In One Lesson" and Thomas Sowell's "Economics" and Amity Shlaes "The Forgotten Man"), you'll know that everything Lonegan said 4 years ago when he ran for governor was dead on and everything he said about Corzine came to fruition.
Corzine is a tax-and-spend liberal who has driven people and business from NJ and run-up massive debt for the future. You should be angry. Scared does nothing to help NJ. Scared cowers in a corner and waits for someone else to do something. Angry gets off his butt and works to get someone other than Corzine elected.
Stop being scared and get angry because you have every reason to be. You have been betrayed by your leaders.
"I figure people drift toward liberalism at a young age, and I always hope that they change when they see how the world really is.”
- Johnny Ramone
GOPanimal, I disagree
Where in South Jersey did you see him? I saw him in South Jersey too and had a completely different impression. He was hopeful and optomistic that we can turn things around with the right leadership, and he made a great case that he is the one with the leadership and plans to get things moving in a positive direction. I mean, he knows the economic issues inside and out, and he has the experience of addressing all the things everyone wants fixed when he was mayor and as a small business owner.
I also didn't think him arrogant. He actually stuck around for a long time, spoke to everyone who wanted to talk to him. Actually, Lonegan came across much more personable than in the past, with a good sense of humor. What was even better was that he answered every question .... with a real and direct answer ... no political doubletalk and boy was that refreshing from a politician. Everyone I spoke to at the meeting had the same reaction because other candidates either don't answer questions or talk in vague phrases without answering a thing.
The more I read about him and see from his campaign and what they are doing the more I am starting to realize why he is attracting such a large number of dedicated supporters. Lonegan has cornered the market on the most important issues, the economic ones (according to over 70% of those polled when you add together the economic and tax responses), and that bodes well. He is showing he is the one who can beat Corzine.