Background Memo  

The most recent survey by Fairleigh Dickinson University's PublicMind was conducted by telephone from July 10 through July 16 using a randomly selected statewide sample of 675 registered voters aged 18 and over.  The sampling error for 675 respondents is +/- 4 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 TMR, Inc. of Parsippany, NJ.  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 phone number (including those with unlisted numbers) an equal chance of being selected. Registered voters are screened through a series of questions. Results are mathematically weighted to match known demographics.

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?

• Jon Corzine
• Richard Codey
• Joe Roberts
• Frank Lautenberg

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: Do you approve or disapprove of the job Jon Corzine did handling the budget?

Question: Who do you think was more responsible for the budget impasse and the shutdown of New Jersey government the … or the… ?

• legislature
• governor

Question: Who do you think is most responsible for the state's recurring budget problems?

• Governor Corzine
• the state legislature
• the Democratic Party
• the Republican Party
• Salaries and benefits of public employees
• Slow economy
• Previous governors [Ask: “which one in particular?”
  • Codey
  • McGreeveyWhitman

Question : In order to raise money in the new budget, the sales tax will increase from 6 to 7 cents. Given the state's budget problems, was this a good idea or a bad idea?

• Good idea
• Bad idea
  • If sales tax is bad idea, ask: Would you rather... or...?
    • Raise the sales tax from 6 cents to 7 cents
    • Make even steeper cuts in state programs

see also:
Survey Analysis
Democratic Analysis
Republican Analysis
Tabular Results