McGreevey’s Resignation Five Years Later

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He’s Gone But Not Forgotten

Five years after Jim McGreevey announced his intention to resign, 62% of New Jersey voters have an unfavorable view of the former governor, while 21% have a favorable view. According to a poll by Fairleigh Dickinson University’s PublicMind, public opinion of McGreevey has worsened in the five years since he said he would resign and acknowledged having a homosexual, extramarital affair with someone later identified as a non-US citizen whom he had appointed his homeland security adviser.

In August 2004, immediately after McGreevey’s resignation announcement, PublicMind polled New Jersey voters about McGreevey. At that time, 53% of New Jersey voters said they had an “unfavorable” opinion of McGreevey, while 32% had a favorable view.  “In some ways the passage of time has hurt McGreevey’s legacy,” said Peter Woolley, professor of political science and director of the poll. “His administration cast a shadow that continues to linger over the state.”

Five years ago, the public split over whether McGreevey really needed to resign: 48% said he should have quit, while 42% said it was not necessary, with 10% unsure.  In fact, back then, Democrats by a margin of 54%-34% said he did not need to resign, and by a margin of 53%-37% Democrats said he deserved re-election.  Now a majority of voters (56%) say that he should have stepped down, while just 38% say it wasn’t necessary, and in the recent poll Democrats by 51%-43% agree that he should have resigned.

And why did he resign? The 2004 report noted that “only 8% of New Jersey voters say the main reason the governor resigned is because he is gay. Another 11% cite an extramarital affair. Nearly half (46%) cite issues related to scandal or corruption.”  The recent study shows a shift: While in 2004 a combined total of 19% said he resigned “because he’s gay” or “because of his extramarital affair,” that combined number now is 30%.  (The recent study shows 12% say the main reason he resigned was because he was gay; 18% because of his extramarital affair.)  Meanwhile, 37%--down from 46%--continue to cite more general reasons of corruption and scandal.

“People change their opinions over the years for a variety of reasons,” said Woolley. “Some people digest or reconsider information. Some people simplify the historical record, or have it simplified for them by overly brief media references. Some just forget.”

Five years ago, 90% of New Jerseyans said they heard “some” or a “great deal” about the resignation episode. Five years later, 86% say they heard some or a great deal about it.

“My guess was that people had forgotten McGreevey, and that the continuous political scandal surrounding his administration had been completely eclipsed by the sex,” added Woolley. “That’s not quite the case yet. But we’ll check again in five years.”

Some things have changed more rapidly. In August 2004, 13% of New Jerseyans said they had not heard of Jon Corzine, another 27% said they heard of him but had no opinion, and 42% had a favorable opinion of him, while 18% had an unfavorable opinion. In the recent poll, 31% said their view of the current governor is favorable while 54% said it is unfavorable.

Fairleigh Dickinson University’s 2009 poll of 803 registered voters statewide was conducted by telephone from June 22 through June 29, and has a margin of error of +/- 3.5 percentage points.

 

Contact:

Peter Woolley 973.670.3239

For more information, please call 201-692-7032.



Copyright © 2009, Fairleigh Dickinson University. All rights reserved. FDU PublicMind Poll [Latest update 090812]