FDU PublicMind - August 12, 2009 Release

Background Memo

The most recent survey by Fairleigh Dickinson University’s PublicMind was conducted by telephone from June 22, 2009 through June 29, 2009 using a randomly selected sample of 803 registered voters statewide. The margin of error for 803 randomly selected respondents is +/- 3.5 percentage points. The 2004 survey by Fairleigh Dickinson University's PublicMind was conducted by telephone from August 13 through August 15 using a randomly selected sample of 500 registered voters statewide aged 18 and over. The sampling error for 500 adults 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 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 land-line phone number (including those with unlisted numbers) an equal chance of being selected. Results are mathematically weighted to match known demographics.

Question NJ1: Now, thinking about 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 NJ2: 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?

Question NJ3: Almost five years ago, New Jersey’s Governor Jim McGreevy announced that he is a gay American and that he had an extramarital affair with a man and that he would resign as governor. How much have you heard or read about this…?

Question NJ4: Do you think that, under the circumstances,… or do you think…?

the governor should have resigned
it wasn’t necessary to resign

Question NJ5: Regardless of what you may think about his resignation, do you think Governor McGreevey had been doing a good enough job to deserve reelection or would you rather have seen a new person in that job?

Question NJ6: In your opinion, what is the main reason the Governor resigned?