Response by Rick Thigpen

This poll shows that perhaps name calling and character assassination are not the viable campaign strategies that the Kean campaign had hoped for. His preoccupation with attacking Menendez has produced at least one tangible result, a dramatic reduction in Kean’s favorables among Democratic voters, which was at one time quite high. This new reality has transformed Kean into a more traditional, (read more beatable) Republican candidate. The Menendez campaign should draw the party lines sharply. Appealing to New Jersey voters to send another Republican to Washington, when they are sick and tired of the policies of this President and his Republican Congressional allies, looks to be a hopeless endeavor. This may explain Kean’s use of increasingly desperate campaign tactics. Rather than give the voters a reason to support him, Kean appears focused on convincing voters there’s something wrong with Menendez. In a year when Bush and his policies are what concerns voters, this approach is looking bankrupt.

see also:
Survey Analysis
Republican Analysis
Tabular Results
Survey Details

Comment by Fairleigh Dickinson University's PublicMind Academic Associate, Rick Thigpen (J.D., Columbia University Law School). Rick is a former Executive Director of the New Jersey Democratic Party, now a principal in 1868 Public Affairs. He is also a campaign coordinator for the Essex County Democratic Party. Rick Thigpen, Esq. can be reached at (609) 394-0888.