Response by Stephen Salmore

"Arena proponents knew that getting Legislative approval would be a tough sell. These results suggest that selling the arena to the public, if a vote is required to approve a bond sale, would be almost impossible. If a public vote is not required, and a Newark arena plan wins Legislative approval, McGreevey may have handed the Republicans an issue they can use against the Democrats in the mid-term elections in 2003, and in the Gubernatorial election in 2005."

Comment by Fairleigh Dickinson University Research Professor of Political Science, Stephen Salmore (Ph.D., Princeton University). Steve specializes in both national and New Jersey politics and presently operates Raritan Associates, Inc. He is a co-founder of the Eagleton Poll and co-author of Parties, Elections and Campaigns and New Jersey Government and Politics.

Dr. Stephen Salmore can be reached at 973-292-3633