Governor

The most devesating number in today's Quinnipiac University poll for Governor Jon Corzine is not his upside-down approval rating or his trailing Republican Christopher Christie by nine points -- it is voter approvals on his handling of the economy.  More than half the voters (56%) disapprove of the way Corzine has handled the economy, while 31% approve.  Among Independent voters, he is upside-down on economic issues, 27%-60%.

Asked if during the economic crisis New Jersey should be led by  businessman like Corzine or a new face like Christie, 37% said a businessman and 49% said a new face.  Among Independents, it was 53%-31% for a new face.  Among New Jerseyans without a college degree, it was 54%-32%, and among senior citizens, it was 51%-33% in favor of a new face. In South Jersey, it was 54%-49% new face over businessman.

Chris Christie has a 37%-46% lead over Gov. Jon Corzine in today's Quinnipiac University poll.  Christie leads Corzine 49%-31% among Independents, 51%-34% among men, 41%-39% among women, and 54%-30% among white voters.  Corzine leads 74%-14% among Black voters.

Republicans back Christie 87%-4%, while Democrats support Corzine, albeit with less intensity, 69%-14%.

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Chris Christie leads Jon Corzine, by nine points, 46%-37%, in the race for Governor

Republican Christopher Christie has a nine percentage point lead, 46%-37%, over Gov. Jon Corzine in the race for Goveror of New Jersey, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released early this morning.  Christie led Corzine by six points last month, and a Fairliegh Dickinson University poll also out Chrisie nine points ahead. 

Corzine has an upside-down approval rating of 40%-50%, about the same as his standing five weeks ago.  The governor has favorables of 38%-50%, also upside-down.  Just 31% approve of the way Corzine is handling the economy, while 56% say they disapprove.

This poll was in the field from March 4-9 and does not affect voter attitudes after Corzine delivered his budget address to a joint session of the New Jersey Legislature on Tuesday.

“There are no good numbers for Gov. Jon Corzine in this poll, and since it was taken before his Draconian budget was released, his numbers could be even worse today,” said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. “Chris Christie continues to widen his lead over Jon Corzine in the race for Governor and this poll indicates Christie could become stronger once he gets better known.”

In a Republican gubernatorial primary matchup, Christie, the former U.S. Attorney, leads former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan by 21 points, 40%-19%.  Franklin Mayor Brian D. Levine is at 3%, and Assemblyman Rick Merkt (R-Mendham) is at 1%.

Christie has favorables of 31%-7%, with more than six out of ten voters have no yet heard of him.  Lonegan is at 15%-17%, with 77% of voters unaware of his candidacy. 

Lonegan trails Corzine by four points, with Corzine holding a 41%-37% lead over the leader of the state's conservative GOP movement.

Asked if Corzine deserved a second term as Governor, 34% said yes and 53% said no.

a TRIP BACK TO THE FUTURE

Mayor Carl Bergmanson, Jon Corzine's opponent for Governor in the upcoming Democratic Primary, said he would welcome the elimination of the program, so long as the sales tax was dropped back down to 6%.

MERKT WELCOMES CHRISTIE TO RACE FOR GOVERNOR
 RENEWS CALL FOR GOP HOPEFULS TO DEBATE

Republican Christopher Christie leads Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine by six percentage points, 44%-38%, in the race for Governor, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released early this morning. 

Corzine's approval ratings have dropped to an upside-down 41%-50%, and his favorable are upside-down at 41%-49%.

"Corzine suddenly has become the underdog in this race and history will surely repeat itself in New Jersey in 2009.  The big question is whether Corzine will come back like Democratic Gov. Brendan Byrne did in 1977 or go down to defeat like Jim Florio in 1993," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

In a Republican primary, Christie, the former U.S. Attorney, leads former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan 44%-17%, with Franklin Mayor Brian Levine at 5% and Assemblyman Rick Merkt (R-Mendham) at 2%. 

More than half of New Jersey voters, 54%-33%, say that Corzine does not deserve to be re-elected to a second term.   Just 23% of independent voters want Corzine for another four years, 64% do not.  Christie leads Corzine among independents by a 49%-24% margin.
 
Most New Jerseyans still don't know Christie (61%) or Lonegan (78%).  Christie has a 31%-7% favorable rating.

In a head-to-head general election matchup, Corzine leads Lonegan 42%-36%.  Lonegan leads among independents by 12 points, 40%-28%, and has a 15%-6% favorable rating.

 MERKT HITS ‘BOSS-RULE’ IN GOP PRIMARY

THREATS AND COERCION BY COUNTY BOSSES
AIM AT RIGGING NOMINATION FOR GOVERNOR

MERKT’S ‘RUNNING’ CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR NOW AT 400+ TOWNS  

Former U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie will enter the race for Governor today.

Former U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie is expected to announce today that he intends to seek the Republican nomination for Governor.  Christie will file formal papers with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission.

Christie, 46, served as New Jersey’s federal prosecutor from 2002 to 2008, where he led a virtual war on political corruption.  His convictions included former Newark Mayor Sharpe James, former Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Wayne Bryant, and Essex County Executive James Treffinger.