FDU PublicMind - October 8, 2003 Survey

Question: In your opinion, do you think things in New Jersey are moving in the right direction or do you think the state has gotten off on the wrong track?

StatewideSept. 24-30

4^th DistrictSept 29-Oct 5

Right Direction
33%

22%

Wrong track
52%

61%

Unsure
14%

17%

Question: Have you heard of … Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of …? Would that be very or somewhat favorable/unfavorable?
		James McGreevey Statewide Sept. 24-30	James McGreevey 4^th District Sept 29-Oct 5	Fred Madden	George Geist
	Very favorable	6%	12%	11	24
	Somewhat favorable	35%	24%	18	28
	Somewhat unfavorable	29%	23%	7	9
	Very unfavorable	21%	31%	5	7
	Heard of but no opinion/don’t know	9%	10%	45	30
	Haven’t heard of…	1%	1%	14	2

Question: How would you rate the job Jim McGreevey is doing as governor—excellent, good, only fair, or poor?
	StatewideSept. 24-30	4^th DistrictSept 29-Oct 5
Excellent or Good	29%	22%
Fair or Poor	69%	77%
Don’t know/unsure	2%	2%

Question: Do you think that James McGreevey has done a good enough job as governor to deserve reelection or would you rather see a new person in that job?
		All	4^th District Sept 29-Oct 5
	Re-elect	27%	14%
	New person	61%	77%
	Don’t know	11%	9%

Question: This November in New Jersey there will be an election for the state legislature. In this year’s election for state assembly and state senate do you think you’ll be voting for the Democratic or Republican candidates?
		Statewide Sept. 24-30	4^th District Sept 29-Oct 5
	Republican	30%	30%
	Democrat	42%	30%
	Unsure	21%	22%
	Both/mixed	5%	12%
	Neither	2%	4%

Question: If the election for New Jersey’s state Senate were held right now, and you had to make a choice, which of the following two candidates would you vote for… or…? [If unsure: “which way do you lean?”]
	All	Repub- licans	Indepen- dents	Demo- crats
Fred Madden, the Democratic candidate	27%	8	9	47
lean Madden	3%	0	7	5
Total Madden	30%	8	16	52
George Geist, the Republican candidate	49%	81	41	28
lean Geist	3%	4	0	2
Total Geist	51%	85	41	29
Unsure	17%	7	37	18
Other	2%	0	6	1

Question: If you knew that a candidate was a strong supporter of Governor McGreevey, would that make you more or less likely to vote for that candidate?
N= 213		4^th District	Republicans	Independents	Democrats
	More	22%	11	13	32
	Less	46%	72	52	30
	Neither	17%	7	5	24
	Unsure	14%	11	30	14

Question: If you knew that a candidate was a strong opponent of Governor McGreevey, would that make you more or less likely to vote for that candidate?
N= 206		4^th District	Republicans	Independents	Democrats
	More	48%	62	53	37
	Less	21%	19	15	26
	Neither	12%	10	8	14
	Unsure	19%	9	25	23

Question: [Still thinking about your Senate district] Which party, the Democrats or Republicans, does a better job….[rotate list] ?
		Statewide Sept. 24-30	4^th District Sept 29-Oct 5
Controlling spending
	Democrats	32%	25
	Republicans	34%	32
	Neither/both	21%	28
	Don’t know	12%	15
Controlling taxes
	Democrats	29%	25
	Republicans	37%	32
	Neither/both	25%	30
	Don’t know	10%	13
Dealing with suburban sprawl/ overdevelopment
	Democrats	37%	32
	Republicans	17%	17
	Neither/both	25%	29
	Don’t know	21%	21
Dealing with auto insurance
	Democrats	23%	20
	Republicans	15%	15
	Neither or both	44%	47
	Don’t know	19%	18
Protecting the environment
	Democrats	52%	45
	Republicans	17%	19
	Neither/both	17%	17
	Don’t know	14%	19
Upholding ethical standards
	Democrats	24%	27
	Republicans	28%	26
	Neither/both	33%	25
	Don’t know	15%	21
Providing security from terror attacks
	Democrats	15%	19
	Republicans	32%	22
	Neither/both	30%	22
	Don’t know	23%	36

Question: Which of these issues we just talked about do you think should be the top priority in the coming year for the governor and legislature?
		Statewide Sept 24-30	4^th District Sept 29-Oct 5
	controlling taxes	23%	38
	controlling spending	20%	12
	Security from terror attacks	17%	7
	Auto insurance	16%	24
	overdevelopment and suburban sprawl	11%	8
	Protecting the environment	7%	5
	Ethical standards	6%	7

Contacts:
Rick Thigpen, academic associate, 609-394-0888.
Steve Salmore, research professor of political science: 973-292-3633.
Peter Woolley, coordinator: 973-443-8725

Radio actuality line: (201) 692-2846.

For more information, please call (201) 692-7032.

Question: In your opinion, do you think things in New Jersey are moving in the right direction or do you think the state has gotten off on the wrong track?
		StatewideSept. 24-30	4^th DistrictSept 29-Oct 5
	Right Direction	33%	22%
	Wrong track	52%	61%
	Unsure	14%	17%