Background Memo  

The most recent survey by Fairleigh Dickinson University's PublicMind was conducted by telephone from January 21 through January 27 using a randomly selected statewide sample of 907 registered voters. The sampling error for 907 is +/- 3 percentage points at the 95 percent level of confidence. Survey results are also subject to non-sampling error. This kind of error, which cannot be measured, arises from a number of factors including, but not limited to, non-response (eligible individuals refusing to be interviewed), question wording, the order in which questions are asked, and variations among interviewers. PublicMind interviews are conducted by professionally trained interviewers use a CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing) system. Random selection is achieved by computerized random-digit dialing. This technique gives every person with a land-line phone number (including those with unlisted numbers) an equal chance of being selected. Results are mathematically weighted to match known demographics.

Question: Now, turning to New Jersey… 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?

Question:  Have you heard of [rotate list]? If you haven’t just tell me. [If yes, ask:] Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of …? Would that be very or somewhat?

• Jon Corzine

Question: How would you rate the job Jon Corzine is doing as governor… [READ]?

• Excellent
• Good
• Only fair
• Poor

Question: Do you approve or disapprove of the job Jon Corzine is doing as governor?

Question: And thinking about roads and bridges in New Jersey, how much of you heard of proposals to increase tolls on the Turnpike and Parkway to provide new funds to repair New Jersey bridges and roads… READ?

• A lot
• Some
• Just a little
• Nothing at all

Question: Do you support or oppose raising tolls on the Turnpike and Parkway to provide new funds to repair bridges and roads and to widen the Turnpike.

*Questions in early January and late October varied somewhat as details of the governor’s plan were unknown. In early January and October the question read: “Do you support or oppose raising tolls on the Turnpike and Parkway to provide new funds to repair bridges and roads and to widen the Turnpike?” There little change between the October and early January measure.  Still earlier in 2007 the question read: “And do you think it would be a good idea or a bad idea to lease the New Jersey Turnpike to a private company?”

see also:
Survey Analysis
Tabular Results
Republican Response
Democratic Response