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Voters don't seem to like Gov. Jon Corzine or his toll hike planGov. Jon Corzine’s has an upside-down approval rating of 37%-52%, down from 46%--43% in December, and 73% of voters oppose his plan to raise tolls, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released this morning.

“Gov. Corzine’s toll hike proposal has smashed into a brick wall of massive voter opposition, causing his approval rating to drop from a three-point positive to a 15-point negative,” said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. “Even those who don’t drive on the toll roads don’t want toll hikes. Voter anger is so strong that less than a third think the Governor deserves re-election. Corzine’s problems are just made worse by the fact that two thirds of the voters are dissatisfied with the way things are going in New Jersey today,”

More than half of the New Jersey voters surveyed (51%) say that Corzine does not deserve to be re-elected next year, and just 32% says he should serve as second term. Voters split 35%-33% on their desire to vote for Corzine or an unnamed Republican.

Among Democrats, opposition to the toll hikes is at 63%-31%. Corzine’s approvals among Democrats stands at just 53%.

Can't wait to see what tomorrow's Quinnipiac poll will look like? Political observers say not to count on anything too exciting.

Gov. Jon Corzine's fiscal restructuring plan will remain unpopular. Corzine's approval rating will likely take a dip, although not a huge one. And Sen. Frank Lautenberg's numbers will probably remain somewhat anemic but not too threatening.

The one thing that's close to certain is that there won't be a bump in the Governor's numbers.

"You don't have to be James Carville to figure that out," said Assemblyman Joe Cryan, who chairs the state Democratic Party. "Without knowing it, I assume his numbers will have dipped. I assume that people won't like the plan because the press discussion, in all candor, has been on one point and not on all four."

But, Cryan said, the public will likely give Corzine credit for trying to "deliver a tough message."

A new Quinnipiac poll has Hillary Clinton leading Barack Obama, 48%-43%: Getty Images Photo
Hillary Clinton's lead in New Jersey has shrunk to just five points and leads Barack Obama 48%-43% among likely Democratic primary voters, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released this morning. On the Republican side, John McCain leads Mitt Romney 52%-30%.

"Sen. Obama has put together a coalition of blacks and independents to dramatically narrow the gap in just the last few days in New Jersey, but the big question remains: Will there be enough of these new, young, first time voters showing up to pull a surprise on Super Tuesday?" said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

The Quinnipiac poll mirrors one conducted at the end of last week by Democratic pollster Stanley Greenberg for George Norcross that showed Clinton ahead by six points. Clinton had a 17-point lead in a January 23 Quinnipiac poll, and had been ahead by as much as 34 points late last year.

A Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey poll of likely Democratic primary voters has Hillary Clinton leading Barack Obama 50%-34% in New Jersey’s February 5 Democratic presidential primary. Among likely GOP voters, John McCain has a 55%-23% lead over Mitt Romney, with 7% for Mike Huckabee and 3% for Ron Paul.

Three days before the New Jersey primary, Hillary Clinton's lead has gone from 34 points to just 6: Getty Images Photo
Hillary Clinton’s lead over Barack Obama in New Jersey has narrowed to 44%-38%, according to a private poll commissioned by one of the state’s most powerful Democratic leaders, George Norcross. The poll, conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner on January 30-31, was distributed to some Norcross allies earlier this morning and obtained by PolitickerNJ.com.

Click here to view Stanley Greenberg's polling memo.

Gov. Jon Corzine's poll numbers took a hit after his State of the State addressGov. Jon Corzine’s State of the State address proposing a major toll hike has caused more New Jerseyans to say the state is headed on the wrong track, according to a Fairleigh Dickinson University poll released today.  Just 26% of voters say the state is headed in the right direction, down from 33% earlier this month, and 63% say New Jersey is headed on the wrong track – up from 55%. 

“In fact the governor is telling voters that the state is on the wrong track,” said Peter Woolley, a political scientist and director of the poll, “and at least this part of his message is getting through.”

Both Democratic presidential candidates lead Republican John McCain in the contest for New Jersey’s fifteen electoral votes in November, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released early this morning. Clinton beats McCain 47%-41%, and Obama leads 46%-39%. Obama leads McCain among independent voters, while Clinton has a clear advantage among women.

Obama, who lost the February 5 New Jersey primary by ten percentage points, is more popular in New Jersey than Clinton. Obama has a 58%-21% favorability rating, while Clinton’s is at 50%-43%. McCain is at 52%-28%.