Barack Obama and John McCain are tied 47%-47% in northwestern New Jersey, according to the new Quinnipiac University poll that looked at voters in Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Sussex and Warren counties. In an October 19, 2004 Quinnipiac poll, George W. Bush led John Kerry in this same region by a 61%-28% margin. And in an October 12, 2006 Quinnipiac poll of the race for United States Senator, northwestern New Jersey voters favored Tom Kean, Jr. over Bob Menendez by a 66%-32% margin.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg and former U.S. Rep. Dick Zimmer, the Republican, are in a statistical dead heat in these five Republican counties, with Lautenberg leading 47%-45.

In Atlantic, Monmouth and Ocean counties, defined by Quinnipiac as the shore region, Obama has a 51%-46% lead over McCain. Bush led Kerry 44%-40% (11/19/04) and Kean led Menendex 52%-41% (11/12/06).  Zimmer leads Lautenberg in the shore region, 46%-44%.