FDU PublicMind - October 28, 2005 Release

Background Memo

The most recent survey by Fairleigh Dickinson University's PublicMind was conducted by telephone from October 20 through October 26 using a randomly selected sample of 442 likely voters statewide aged 18 and over. The sampling error for 442 adults is +/- 5 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. All PublicMind interviews are conducted by TMR, Inc. of Cedar Knolls, NJ. Professionally trained interviewers use a CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing) system. Random selection is achieved through computerized random-digit dialing. This technique gives every person with a phone number (including those with unlisted numbers) an equal chance of being selected.The questions included in this release are as follows:

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?

Doug Forrester
Jon Corzine

Question: If the election for Governor of New Jersey were held right now, and you had to hake a choice, which of the following …or … would you vote for? [If “unsure” ask:] Which way do you lean…?

Question: Which candidate for governor… or … is best described by…?

Honest, trustworthy
Can do something about high property taxes
Understands the concerns of the average person
Has the background and experience to be a good governor
Negative campaigner
Independent of the party bosses and large campaign contributors

Question: Now, regardless of which candidate you want to win, if you had to guess, who would you say is going to win the election for governor in November… or …?