Thread: Election 2009: New Jersey Governor: Corzine Falls Further Be

Election 2009: New Jersey Governor

Corzine Falls Further Behind in New Jersey Reelection Bid

Thursday, March 12, 2009

New Jersey’s Democratic Governor Jon S. Corzine, who hopes to win a second term in November, has now fallen behind Republican challenger Christopher J. Christie by 15 points – 49% to 34%. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of voters in the state shows that seven percent (7%) prefer some other candidate, and 10% are undecided.

Corzine trails another potential GOP challenger, former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan, 43% to 35%, while seven percent (7%) like another candidate and 15% are not sure whom they prefer. New Jersey Republicans will chose a candidate to run against Corzine in a primary on June 2.

The survey was taken Tuesday, the day Corzine was announcing $916 million in new and increased taxes as part of his $29.8 billion state budget for 2010.

A Quinnipiac University poll taken just prior to the governor’s announcement found him trailing Christie by nine and leading Lonegan by four.

"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," Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, said in the release accompanying the poll.

The survey numbers thus far, however, appear to be more a reflection of anti-Corzine sentiment on the part of New Jersey voters rather than a strong endorsement of either of his possible GOP challengers.

Just nine percent (9%) have a Very Favorable opinion of the governor while 32% hold a Very Unfavorable opinion. Eight percent (8%) Strongly Approve of the way he’s performing his job and 42% Strongly Disapprove. Overall, 33% of New Jersey voters at least somewhat approve of the job Corzine is doing while 66% disapprove.

Sixteen percent (16%) have a Very Favorable opinion of Christie, the top U.S. prosecutor in New Jersey for seven years, while only eight percent (8%) have a Very Unfavorable view.

Lonegan earns Very Favorable reviews from 14% and Very Unfavorable reviews from eight percent (8%). Thirty-four percent (34%) aren't sure what they think of Lonegan.

Historically, New Jersey often shows Republicans competitive with Democrats until the fall when the latter pull away decisively. A Republican has not won a statewide election in the Garden State since 1997.

All this suggests that it’s premature to write Corzine’s political obituary before his Republican opponent is decided upon and better known.

The new numbers mark an 11-point drop in approval for Corzine just since January. Christie had a two-point lead over the incumbent in that survey, but 23% had no opinion of the GOP hopeful.

Running against Corzine, Christie has the support of 78% of New Jersey Republicans while Corzine is backed by 63% of Democrats. Christie has a substantial lead among those not affiliated with either major party.

In a match-up with Lonegan, Corzine earns the backing of 66% of Democrats while the Republican gets 72% support from members of his party.

Just 33% of all New Jersey voters are at least somewhat confident that Corzine and the legislature will balance the budget in a manner that is good for the state. Sixty-four percent (64%) lack that confidence.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_ ... y_governor

Mr. Lonegan is an outspoken critic of illegal immigration. He wants to stop the yearly 2 billion dollars being spent to support them, and then some... The New Jersey governor's race is crucial to the future of our state as well as the country. So New Jerseyians, do some volunteer work for Steve Lonegan's campaign. My friend is collecting signatures for the petition to get him on the ballot. Corzine must go!

www.nytimes.com/2007/09/04/nyregion/04brothers.html