August 22, 2018 - GOP Challenger Cuts Menendez Lead In NJ Senate Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Murphy Gets Good Grades Overall, Mixed On Transit

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The New Jersey U.S. Senate campaign is developing into a horse race as Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez leads former pharmaceutical executive Bob Hugin, his Republican challenger, by a slim 43 - 37 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University Poll released today.





This compares to a 49 - 32 percent Menendez lead in a March 13 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University Poll.





There is a wide racial gap as Hugin leads 47 - 38 percent among white voters and Menendez leads 51 - 18 percent among non-white voters. Republicans back Hugin 85 - 6 percent while Democrats go to Menendez 74 - 10 percent. Independent voters are divided with 37 percent for Hugin and 33 percent for Menendez.





Menendez was involved in serious wrongdoing, New Jersey voters say 49 - 16 percent, including 38 - 25 percent among Democrats. Among all voters, 31 percent say they haven't heard enough to decide if Menendez was involved in wrongdoing.





Voters give Menendez a negative 40 - 47 percent approval rating and a negative 29 - 47 percent favorability rating.





Hugin gets a slightly positive 24 - 20 percent favorability, but 54 percent of voters haven't heard enough about him to form an opinion.





Ethics in government is the most important issue in deciding how they will vote for U.S. Senator, 25 percent of New Jersey voters say, as 21 percent list taxes; 19 percent cite health care, with 14 percent each for immigration and the economy.





"As Sen. Robert Menendez sees his once dominant lead whittled down to single digits, New Jersey voters are sending a clear message. They are troubled by the ethics cloud hanging over him," said Mary Snow, polling analyst for the Quinnipiac Poll.





"While voters prefer Sen. Menendez over Republican Bob Hugin in deep blue New Jersey, they give the incumbent negative approval and favorability ratings," Snow added.





Gov. Murphy, Sen. Booker, President Trump





New Jersey voters approve 54 - 32 percent of the job Gov. Phil Murphy is doing, up from 44 - 23 percent March 13, shortly after he took office. Approval is 82 - 7 percent among Democrats and 45 - 39 percent among independent voters. Republicans disapprove 64 - 25 percent.





Voters approve 56 - 31 percent of the job U.S. Sen. Cory Booker is doing, compared to 59 - 31 percent March 13. Voters say 51 - 37 percent that Booker should not run for president.





President Donald Trump gets a big negative 33 - 63 percent job approval rating.





Only 4 percent of New Jersey voters give Gov. Murphy an A for the way he is handling mass transit, with 22 percent giving a B, 32 percent giving a C, 12 percent at D and 14 percent flunking the governor on mass transit.





He gets similar grades for handling roads and highways: A - 5 percent, B - 25 percent, C - 32 percent, D - 13 percent, F - 13 percent.





"New Jersey voters are warming to Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy. They give him less than stellar grades, however, on his handling of mass transit as commuters struggle with delays and cancellations on NJ TRANSIT this summer," Snow said.





Legalized Marijuana





New Jersey voters support 62 - 33 percent allowing adults to legally possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use, compared to 59 - 37 percent March 13.





Voters also support 63 - 27 percent erasing criminal records for marijuana possession.





By a smaller 50 - 45 percent, voters support the sale of marijuana in their community.





From August 15 - 20, Quinnipiac University surveyed 908 New Jersey voters with a margin of error of +/- 4.6 percentage points, including the design effect. Live interviewers call landlines and cell phones.





The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts nationwide public opinion surveys, and statewide polls in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Iowa, Colorado and Texas as a public service and for research.





Visit poll.qu.edu or www.facebook.com/quinnipiacpoll





Call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll.





1. If the election for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates were Robert Menendez the Democrat and Bob Hugin the Republican, for whom would you vote?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Menendez 43% 6% 74% 33% 42% 43% 46% 30% Hugin 37 85 10 37 42 33 41 52 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 2 - 3 3 2 2 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 - 1 3 2 1 - 3 DK/NA 16 7 14 23 11 21 10 13 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Menendez 47% 48% 44% 36% 35% 41% 38% 51% Hugin 22 30 38 51 55 39 47 18 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 6 1 2 2 3 1 2 3 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 2 2 2 1 2 1 2 DK/NA 23 18 14 9 6 16 12 26

2. Is your opinion of Robert Menendez favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Favorable 29% 7% 49% 23% 29% 29% 23% 21% Unfavorable 47 74 32 49 52 44 59 56 Hvn't hrd enough 20 17 16 23 15 23 15 19 REFUSED 4 2 4 5 5 4 3 3 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Favorable 28% 25% 35% 30% 20% 23% 22% 43% Unfavorable 31 41 52 60 63 52 57 28 Hvn't hrd enough 40 27 11 7 13 22 17 24 REFUSED 1 6 3 3 4 3 4 5

3. Is your opinion of Bob Hugin favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Favorable 24% 48% 8% 26% 27% 21% 27% 33% Unfavorable 20 5 34 14 21 18 22 16 Hvn't hrd enough 54 46 58 54 50 58 49 48 REFUSED 3 1 - 5 2 3 2 3 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Favorable 7% 18% 26% 37% 34% 26% 30% 12% Unfavorable 19 18 26 18 19 19 19 21 Hvn't hrd enough 72 58 47 43 44 53 49 65 REFUSED 2 5 1 2 2 2 2 2

4. What is the most important issue to you in deciding how to vote in this year's election for United States Senator: the economy, taxes, ethics in government, immigration, or health care?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Economy 14% 18% 10% 16% 17% 12% 15% 13% Taxes 21 31 15 21 20 22 20 23 Ethics in government 25 16 27 28 25 24 30 24 Immigration 14 22 12 12 11 16 11 16 Health care 19 11 29 14 19 19 18 18 SOMETHING ELSE(VOL) 3 1 4 4 3 3 2 4 DK/NA 4 2 2 5 4 3 3 2 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Economy 13% 19% 15% 11% 17% 11% 14% 14% Taxes 20 27 20 19 22 21 21 21 Ethics in government 30 24 25 24 25 29 27 20 Immigration 12 7 18 19 12 15 13 16 Health care 23 17 15 20 15 21 18 22 SOMETHING ELSE(VOL) 3 2 4 2 4 2 3 3 DK/NA - 4 4 4 5 2 3 5

5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Phil Murphy is handling his job as governor?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 54% 25% 82% 45% 51% 57% 49% 45% Disapprove 32 64 7 39 35 30 39 41 DK/NA 13 11 12 16 14 13 12 14 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Approve 71% 49% 56% 42% 45% 49% 47% 69% Disapprove 19 37 33 40 42 37 39 19 DK/NA 10 14 11 18 13 14 14 12

6. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 35% 24% 46% 33% 34% 37% 34% 30% Disapprove 42 55 32 44 47 38 47 45 DK/NA 22 21 22 23 19 25 19 26 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Approve 44% 36% 37% 27% 30% 34% 32% 44% Disapprove 35 44 44 49 51 41 46 33 DK/NA 20 19 19 24 20 25 22 23

7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Cory Booker is handling his job as United States Senator?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 56% 15% 84% 51% 51% 59% 57% 44% Disapprove 31 71 5 36 36 27 36 44 DK/NA 13 14 11 14 12 13 7 13 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Approve 58% 56% 60% 52% 44% 56% 50% 68% Disapprove 22 31 30 41 46 34 40 14 DK/NA 21 13 10 7 10 10 10 18

8. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Robert Menendez is handling his job as United States Senator?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 40% 17% 57% 37% 39% 41% 38% 30% Disapprove 47 75 27 50 51 43 51 59 DK/NA 13 7 16 13 10 16 11 11 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Approve 46% 39% 43% 35% 32% 37% 34% 52% Disapprove 33 45 47 58 60 50 55 30 DK/NA 21 16 9 7 8 14 11 17

9. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 33% 82% 4% 33% 38% 28% 35% 48% Disapprove 63 11 94 61 58 67 62 46 DK/NA 5 6 2 6 5 4 3 6 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Approve 17% 33% 32% 44% 48% 36% 41% 15% Disapprove 76 61 65 54 47 61 54 79 DK/NA 7 6 3 2 6 3 4 6

10. Do you think Cory Booker should run for president in 2020 or not?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Should 37% 19% 53% 32% 37% 38% 35% 31% No 51 73 35 54 54 48 56 56 DK/NA 12 8 11 14 9 14 8 14 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Yes/Should 47% 42% 37% 30% 33% 34% 33% 47% No 44 50 46 59 60 53 56 39 DK/NA 9 8 17 11 7 13 11 13

11. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in New Jersey today; are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Very satisfied 3% 3% 5% 2% 4% 2% 2% 3% Smwht satisfied 45 29 63 38 42 49 40 41 Smwht dissatisfied 30 32 24 35 32 28 36 30 Very dissatisfied 20 35 7 23 21 19 21 25 DK/NA 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Very satisfied 6% 1% 1% 5% 3% 2% 3% 4% Smwht satisfied 56 40 49 35 37 44 41 54 Smwht dissatisfied 26 39 29 27 36 30 33 26 Very dissatisfied 10 19 19 29 23 22 22 13 DK/NA 2 - 2 3 - 2 1 3

12. As you may know, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez was indicted on charges of bribery, but the case was dismissed after the jury failed to reach a verdict. Do you think that Senator Menendez was involved in any serious wrongdoing, not involved in any serious wrongdoing, or haven't you heard enough about it?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Involved 49% 65% 38% 51% 57% 43% 57% 53% No 16 9 25 11 17 15 15 13 Hvn't hrd enough 31 23 32 35 23 38 25 28 REFUSED 4 2 5 3 3 5 3 6 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Yes/Involved 37% 51% 48% 56% 62% 48% 54% 39% No 12 15 25 15 15 13 14 19 Hvn't hrd enough 48 33 23 23 20 33 27 40 REFUSED 3 2 4 5 2 6 4 2

13. Do you support or oppose allowing adults in New Jersey to legally possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 62% 41% 78% 59% 65% 60% 68% 54% Oppose 33 52 21 34 29 37 29 38 DK/NA 5 7 2 7 6 3 3 8 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Support 90% 65% 63% 46% 63% 59% 61% 66% Oppose 10 29 33 47 29 37 33 31 DK/NA - 6 4 7 7 4 5 3

14. Do you support or oppose erasing criminal records for marijuana possession?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 63% 46% 74% 61% 66% 60% 67% 62% Oppose 27 41 20 28 27 28 27 27 DK/NA 10 14 6 11 7 12 6 11 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Support 81% 63% 62% 60% 68% 62% 65% 61% Oppose 16 28 28 27 27 27 27 27 DK/NA 3 9 10 13 6 11 9 12

15. Would you support or oppose the sale of marijuana in your community?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 50% 28% 66% 46% 54% 47% 55% 43% Oppose 45 66 30 48 42 48 40 50 DK/NA 5 6 3 6 4 5 4 7 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Support 81% 55% 51% 33% 52% 47% 49% 54% Oppose 16 41 46 59 43 47 45 44 DK/NA 3 4 3 8 5 6 5 2

16. What letter grade would you give Governor Murphy for his handling of mass transit: A, B, C, D, or F?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No A 4% 2% 6% 3% 4% 3% 4% 3% B 22 11 28 24 22 23 19 21 C 32 26 39 30 29 35 32 30 D 12 21 7 11 14 10 13 10 F 14 21 4 19 17 12 16 17 DK/NA 16 20 16 13 15 16 16 19 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht A 2% 3% 8% 1% 3% 4% 3% 5% B 42 18 18 18 17 24 21 27 C 23 38 39 28 33 29 31 36 D 7 13 10 16 12 12 12 11 F 10 15 15 16 19 14 16 9 DK/NA 16 14 11 20 16 18 17 12

17. What letter grade would you give Governor Murphy for his handling of roads and highways: A, B, C, D, or F?