September 27, 2005 - 6:50pm
News

Polls, polls, polls

Fairleigh Dickinson University has a new poll that has the race for Governor within eight points: Jon Corzine leads Doug Forrester, 44%-36%. With leaners added, Corzine is ahead 48%-38%. Two new polls will be released on Wednesday: one from Quinnipiac University, which has emerged over the last five years as the premier independent poll in the state, and the maiden poll from a new venture between Monmouth University and Gannett New Jersey. The Monmouth/Gannett poll is directed by Patrick Murray, who was formerly associated with the Star-Ledger/Rutgers-Eagleton poll.

GOP sources say that Arthur Finkelstein conducted a poll for the Forrester campaign that came out of the field last night showing Corzine leading Forrester by a 43%-36% margin. The survey had a sample size of 500 registered voters.

The FDU poll, launched in 2001, has traditionally included analysis from each party. The death of Steve Salmore on Sunday left the survey without a Republican voice, and his role has been filled by Michael Torpey, the former Chief of Staff to Governor Christine Todd Whitman. Torpey is a business partner of the poll's Democratic analyst, former Democratic State Committee Executive Director Rick Thigpen. FDU says no decision has been made regarding future polls.

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