FDU PublicMind - October 5, 2003 Survey

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?
		All	Republicans	Independents	Democrats
	Republican	30%	71%	18%	3%
	Democrat	42%	4%	19%	77%
	Don’t know/unsure	21%	20%	49%	13%
	Both/mixed	5%	3%	8%	5%
	Neither	2%	1%	5%	1%

Question: How would you rate the job Jim McGreevey is doing as governor—excellent, good, only fair, or poor?
	All	Republicans	Independents	Democrats
Excellent or Good	29%	19%	20%	39%
Fair or Poor	69%	79%	77%	59%
Don’t know/unsure	2%	2%	3%	2%

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?
		All	Republicans	Independents	Democrats
	More	25%	11%	20%	37%
	Less	51%	76%	42%	35%
	Neither	10%	6%	10%	13%
	Unsure	13%	7%	27%	14%

Question: In your opinion, do you think things in New Jersey are moving in the right direction or do believe or do you think the state has gotten off on the wrong track?
		All	Republicans	Independents	Democrats
	Right Direction	33%	25%	27%	42%
	Wrong track	52%	62%	54%	45%
	Don’t know/unsure	14%	13%	19%	13%

Question: By the way, do you know which party the Governor belongs to?
		All	Republicans	Independents	Democrats
	Democratic	72%	78%	56%	72%
	Republican	10%	8%	8%	12%
	Neither	1%	1%	2%	1%
	Don’t know	17%	13%	34%	15%

Question: Do you happen to know which party has a majority in New Jersey’s State Assembly?
		All	Republicans	Independents	Democrats
	Democratic	31%	42%	23%	25%
	Republican	26%	21%	23%	29%
	Neither	2%	3%	--	2%
	Don’t know	41%	34%	54%	43%

Question: Which party, the Democrats or Republicans, does a better job….[rotate list] ?
		All	Republicans	Independents	Democrats
Controlling spending
	Democrats	32%	12%	30%	49%
	Republicans	34%	58%	14%	22%
	Neither	19%	16%	36%	17%
	Both	2%	1%	1%	3%
	Don’t know	12%	12%	19%	9%
Controlling taxes
	Democrats	29%	10%	20%	46%
	Republicans	37%	62%	27%	21%
	Neither	22%	19%	32%	21%
	Both	3%	1%	3%	4%
	Don’t know	10%	8%	18%	8%
Dealing with suburban sprawl / overdevelopment
	Democrats	37%	17%	26%	55%
	Republicans	17%	32%	11%	8%
	Neither	22%	26%	30%	17%
	Both	3%	2%	4%	3%
	Don’t know	21%	22%	29%	17%
Dealing with auto insurance
	Democrats	23%	10%	9%	37%
	Republicans	15%	30%	8%	6%
	Neither	41%	38%	67%	36%
	Both	3%	3%	1%	3%
	Don’t know	19%	19%	16%	18%
Protecting the environment
	Democrats	52%	35%	39%	70%
	Republicans	17%	33%	15%	6%
	Neither	11%	12%	23%	6%
	Both	6%	6%	4%	6%
	Don’t know	14%	14%	19%	11%
Upholding ethical standards
	Democrats	24%	6%	9%	42%
	Republicans	28%	57%	15%	10%
	Neither	26%	20%	42%	25%
	Both	7%	4%	10%	8%
	Don’t know	15%	13%	22%	15%
Providing security from terror attacks
	Democrats	15%	6%	9%	25%
	Republicans	32%	54%	19%	19%
	Neither	16%	13%	26%	15%
	Both	14%	11%	13%	16%
	Don’t know	23%	16%	31%	26%

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	Republicans	Independents	Democrats
	Re-elect	27%	14%	26%	38%
	New person	61%	77%	62%	49%
	Don’t know	11%	9%	12%	12%

Question: The state of California is holding a referendum in a few weeks asking voters whether the governor of that state should be recalled. How much have you heard or read about the California recall
		All	Republicans	Independents	Democrats
	Only a little	26%	22%	31%	26%
	Some	19%	15%	19%	23%
	Quite a bit	29%	28%	27%	30%
	A great deal	25%	33%	21%	20%
	Don’t know/ref	2%	2%	1%	2%

Question: New Jersey currently has a recall procedure that makes it difficult to recall the governor. Do you think New Jersey should have a procedure that makes it easier to recall the governor—or should we leave it alone?
		All	Republicans	Independents	Democrats
	Change it	25%	30%	24%	20%
	Leave it alone	70%	64%	72%	76%
	Don’t know/unsure	5%	6%	4%	4%

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.