Clay F. Richards, Assistant Director Quinnipiac University Polling Institute (203) 582-5201 Rubenstein Associates, Inc., Public Relations Pat Smith (212) 843-8026 FOR RELEASE: JULY 9, 2007
NJ VOTERS BACK SALES TAX/PROPERTY TAX SHIFT MORE THAN 2–1, QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY POLL FINDS; STRONG SUPPORT FOR STEM CELL RESEARCH
By a 66 – 25 percent margin, New Jersey voters support a constitutional amendment dedicating another one-half of 1 percent of sales tax to property tax relief, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Support is consistent among Democrats, Republicans and independent voters. By a smaller 49 – 39 percent margin, New Jersey voters support a November ballot issue authorizing the state to borrow $450 million for stem cell research, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. New Jersey voters support embryonic stem cell research 71 – 19 percent and support 65 – 25 percent New Jersey becoming one of the most active states in the nation in embryonic stem cell research. Republicans support embryonic stem cell research 52 – 39 percent, while Democrats support it 79 – 10 percent and independent voters support it 76 – 15 percent. “New Jersey voters support stem cell research by overwhelming margins and seem anxious to make their state a leader in this area,” said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. “Voters disapprove 68 – 23 percent of President Bush’s veto of a bill providing federal funds for such research. But they are a little more fiscally cautious, approving 49 – 39 percent, the referendum on the November ballot to borrow $450 million for stem cell research. “Voters have gotten a taste of property tax relief and are clearly saying they want more by dedicating all of last year’s one percent state sales tax hike to sweeten the pot.” -more-
Quinnipiac University Poll/July 9, 2007 – page 2 “Support for leasing the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway is slim, dropping to 31 percent in the latest poll while 54 percent disapprove,” Richards added. New Jersey voters approve 48 – 39 percent of the job Gov. Jon Corzine is doing, compared to 51 – 36 percent April 18. In this latest survey, Republicans disapprove of the Governor 60 – 28 percent, while Democrats approve 64 – 22 percent and independent voters approve 45 – 41 percent. Sen. Frank Lautenberg Sen. Frank Lautenberg gets a 41 – 32 percent approval; Republicans disapprove 49 – 31 percent while Democrats approve 55 – 14 percent and independent voters split 36 – 37 percent. Only 31 percent of New Jersey voters say Sen. Lautenberg deserves to be reelected in 2008, while 42 percent say he doesn’t deserve to be reelected. But 40 percent of voters say they would vote for Lautenberg if his reelection were today, with 33 percent who say they would vote for an unnamed Republican candidate. Democrats would go with the incumbent 77 – 7 percent, while Republicans would stay with their party 74 – 7 percent. Independent voters tend to back the unnamed Republican 34 – 30 percent. Lautenberg, 83, “is too old to effectively serve another six-year term as U.S. Senator,” 54 percent of voters say, while 40 percent say he is not too old. Even Democrats say 48 – 44 percent Lautenberg is too old, while Republicans say 62 – 35 percent he is too old and independent voters say 53 – 41 percent the incumbent is too old. “This poll suggests that if Republicans field a strong candidate, Sen. Frank Lautenberg could be in trouble. But since no strong challenger has appeared so far on the horizon, and since 2008 is a presidential year, New Jersey's strong Democratic traditions could keep the Senator in office,” Richards said. From June 26 – July 2, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,604 New Jersey voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percentage points. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio and nationally as a public service and for research. For more data -- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x271.xml, or call (203) 582-5201.
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22. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jon Corzine is handling his job as Governor? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 48% 39 13 Urban Approve Disapprove DK/NA 57% 25 18 Rep 28% 60 11 Dem 64% 22 14 Ind 45% 41 14 Philly land 50% 34 17 Men 49% 42 9 Shore 42% 48 10 Wom 47% 36 17
SubUrbn ExUrbn 48% 38 15 44% 48 8
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jon Corzine is handling his job as Governor? Highest Lowest Approve Approve Jul 9 Apr 18 Feb 28 Jan 24 Dec 7 Apr 18 Apr 26 2007 2007 2007 2007 2006 2007 2006 Approve Disapprove DK/NA 48 39 13 51 36 13 50 34 16 42 42 16 49 32 19 51 36 13 35 42 23
23. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 30% 52 18 Urban Approve Disapprove DK/NA 35% 38 27 Rep 22% 66 12 Dem 45% 34 21 Ind 23% 59 18 Philly land 30% 51 19 Men 31% 58 11 Shore 26% 59 15 Wom 29% 46 25
SubUrbn ExUrbn 35% 49 16 20% 61 19
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? Highest Approve Jul 9 Apr 18 Feb 28 Jan 24 Dec 7 Jan 26 2007 2007 2007 2007 2006 2005 Approve Disapprove DK/NA 30 52 18 32 49 19 31 52 17 27 54 19 31 50 19 44 31 25
Lowest Approve Jul 14 2006 20 71 10
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24. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Frank Lautenberg is handling his job as United States Senator? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 41% 32 28 Urban Approve Disapprove DK/NA 44% 26 30 Rep 31% 49 21 Dem 55% 14 31 Ind 36% 37 27 Philly land 38% 30 32 Men 43% 36 20 Shore 41% 32 27 Wom 39% 27 34
SubUrbn ExUrbn 42% 33 25 38% 34 28
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Frank Lautenberg is handling his job as United States Senator? * - also 55% on 9/23/1999 & 7/22/1999 Highest Approve Jul 27 2000 * 55 22 23 Lowest Approve Feb 28 2007 40 32 28
Jul 9 2007 Approve Disapprove DK/NA 41 32 28
Apr 18 2007 47 29 24
Feb 28 2007 40 32 28
Jan 25 2007 44 32 24
Dec 7 2006 44 33 23
25. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Robert Menendez is handling his job as United States Senator? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 31% 39 31 Urban Approve Disapprove DK/NA 36% 29 34 Rep 16% 59 25 Dem 48% 21 31 Ind 25% 42 33 Philly land 30% 35 35 Men 31% 45 24 Shore 32% 37 31 Wom 30% 34 37
SubUrbn ExUrbn 28% 43 29 30% 44 26
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Robert Menendez is handling his job as United States Senator? * also 39% on 3/20/06 ** also 31% on 7/17/06 Highest Approve Dec 7 2006 * 39 37 24 Lowest Approve Jul 9 2007 ** 31 39 31
Jul 9 2007 Approve Disapprove DK/NA 31 39 31
Apr 18 2007 34 36 30
Feb 28 2007 34 35 31
Jan 25 2007 36 33 31
Dec 7 2006 39 37 24
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27. Looking ahead to the 2008 election for United States Senator, do you feel that Frank Lautenberg deserves to be reelected, or do you feel that he does not deserve to be reelected? Tot Yes No DK/NA 31% 42 27 Urban Yes No DK/NA 33% 33 34 Rep 18% 66 16 Dem 46% 22 33 Ind 26% 48 26 Philly land 25% 44 31 Men 34% 49 17 Shore 31% 45 24 Wom 28% 37 35
SubUrbn ExUrbn 35% 41 25 28% 49 23
28. If the 2008 election for United States Senator were being held today, do you think you would vote for Frank Lautenberg the Democratic candidate or the Republican candidate? Tot Lautenberg Republican DEPENDS ON CAND(VOL) DK/NA 40% 33 14 13 Urban Lautenberg Republican DEPENDS ON CAND(VOL) DK/NA 50% 23 12 15 Rep 7% 74 14 4 Dem 77% 7 6 9 Ind 30% 34 19 18 Philly land 41% 33 14 11 Men 37% 41 13 9 Shore 36% 37 14 13 Wom 43% 27 14 16
SubUrbn ExUrbn 44% 32 12 12 29% 42 17 12
29. At age 83, do you think Frank Lautenberg is too old to effectively serve another 6 year term as United States Senator, or not? Tot Yes No DK/NA 54% 40 6 Urban Yes No DK/NA 49% 46 5 Rep 62% 35 4 Dem 48% 44 7 Ind 53% 41 6 Philly land 52% 42 6 Men 53% 42 5 Shore 60% 36 4 Wom 55% 39 7
SubUrbn ExUrbn 52% 40 8 55% 40 4
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35. Do you support or oppose selling or leasing the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway as a way of reducing New Jersey's debt and possibly providing money for tax relief? Tot Support Oppose DK/NA 31% 54 15 Urban Support Oppose DK/NA 31% 53 16 Rep 29% 59 12 Dem 36% 47 17 Ind 27% 58 15 Philly land 36% 50 14 Men 30% 59 11 Shore 29% 60 11 Wom 31% 50 19
SubUrbn ExUrbn 30% 53 17 29% 56 15
TREND: Do you support or oppose selling or leasing the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway as a way of reducing New Jersey's debt and possibly providing money for tax relief? Jul 9 2007 Support Oppose DK/NA 31 54 15 Feb 28 2007 34 56 10 Jan 24 2007 34 53 12
36. As you may know, New Jersey voters will be asked this fall to approve a constitutional amendment dedicating another one half of 1 percent of the state sales tax revenue to property tax relief. Do you support or oppose this constitutional amendment? Tot Support Oppose DK/NA 66% 25 9 Urban Support Oppose DK/NA 68% 21 12 Rep 63% 30 7 Dem 70% 21 9 Ind 67% 24 9 Philly land 68% 23 8 Men 66% 28 6 Shore 68% 24 8 Wom 67% 22 11
SubUrbn ExUrbn 62% 28 10 70% 24 6
37. In general, do you support or oppose embryonic stem cell research? Tot Support Oppose DK/NA 71% 19 10 Urban Support 69% Rep 52% 39 9 Dem 79% 10 10 Ind 76% 15 9 Philly land 66% Men 70% 21 9 Shore 75% Wom 71% 18 11
SubUrbn ExUrbn 70% 75%
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Oppose 16 18 20 23 20 DK/NA 16 12 5 11 5 38. As you may know, Congress passed a bill to expand federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. President Bush recently vetoed this bill. Do you approve or disapprove of President Bush's veto of this bill? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 23% 68 9 Urban Approve Disapprove DK/NA 17% 65 18 Rep 47% 45 8 Dem 10% 81 8 Ind 18% 73 9 Philly land 26% 69 5 Men 25% 69 6 Shore 22% 71 7 Wom 21% 68 11
SubUrbn ExUrbn 21% 69 10 29% 66 5
39. As you may know, there will be a referendum that will be on this November's ballot authorizing the state government to borrow 450 million dollars for stem cell research? Do you support or oppose this referendum? Tot Support Oppose DK/NA 49% 39 12 Urban Support Oppose DK/NA 48% 34 18 Rep 31% 58 11 Dem 63% 25 12 Ind 50% 38 12 Philly land 46% 44 10 Men 51% 40 8 Shore 49% 39 12 Wom 47% 37 15
SubUrbn ExUrbn 49% 37 13 53% 40 7
40. Do you support or oppose New Jersey becoming one of the most active states in the nation supporting embryonic stem cell research? Tot Support Oppose DK/NA 65% 25 10 Urban Support Oppose DK/NA 63% 22 15 Rep 45% 47 8 Dem 77% 14 9 Ind 69% 19 11 Philly land 61% 29 10 Men 67% 24 8 Shore 68% 26 7 Wom 63% 25 12
SubUrbn ExUrbn 66% 23 11 68% 25 7
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