Fairleigh Dickinson Univ. (2/25-3/2, registered voters, 1/2-1/7 in parentheses):
Jon Corzine (D-inc): 32 (40)
Chris Christie (R): 41 (33)Jon Corzine (D-inc): 36 (46)
Steve Lonegan (R): 32 (28)
(MoE: ±4%)Chris Christie (R): 43 (32)
Steve Lonegan (R): 15 (15)
Rick Merkt (R): 1 (5)
Brian Levine (R): 2 (0)
(MoE: ±6%)
Jon Corzine seems to be joining neighboring governor David Paterson in a race to the bottom, losing steam as the state’s economy falters. He trails US Attorney Chris Christie by 9, compared with a 7-point lead in January (prior to Christie’s announcement of his candidacy). These numbers are consistent with Corzine’s mediocre approve/disapprove of 40/46.
Christie still must get through a primary, most prominently against former Bogota mayor Steve Lonegan, who seems to be running to Christie’s right. I have to wonder if Corzine’s best hope would be to spend his buckets of money now to make sure that the wingnutty Lonegan wins the primary (a la the Dems’ gaming the system in the 2002 Riordan/Simon primary in California)… otherwise, he’ll be digging a lot deeper into his pockets, and having to bank on economic recovery, in November.
UPDATE: Ooops, look like we never got around to reporting Quinnipiac‘s last poll of this race from 1/29-2/2, which had Christie up 44-38. We have enough information now that Pollster has some trendlines up, and the results ain’t pretty.
Just like Menendez was doomed in 2006 was and all other statewide races where Dems were down early before cruising to easy victories.
He’s as far right as you can get. I wouldn’t want to take the chance that he could get elected.
…and look how that turned out.
Don’t believe the hype. New Jersey has a way of tempting Republicans with the possibility of success during the spring/summer, but then dashing those hopes later.