Forrester down by 4% according to Quinnipiac.September 28, 2005 - Forrester Narrows Corzine's Lead In New Jersey, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Republican Is Ahead On Property Tax, Corruption Issue
Republican Douglas Forrester has narrowed the gap with Democratic U. S. Sen. Jon Corzine in the race for Governor of New Jersey and now trails 48 - 44 percent among likely voters, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Eight percent are undecided.
This compares to a 50 - 40 percent Corzine lead among likely voters in an August 10 poll by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University.
In an open-ended question, where voters can give any answer, 41 percent of likely voters list taxes, including 26 percent who list property taxes, as the most important issue in the Governor's race. For 12 percent of voters, honesty/corruption is most important.
New Jersey likely voters say 43 - 39 percent that Forrester would do a better job reducing property taxes. But voters say 46 - 39 percent that Corzine would do a better job dealing with the state budget crisis, and 44 - 41 percent that the Democrat would do a better job on taxes in general.
Voters say 40 - 38 percent, a tie, that Forrester would do a better job ending corruption. Men say 50 - 35 percent that the Republican would do a better job.
"Doug Forrester has turned this election into a horse race because voters - men in particular - narrowly believe he can better solve the two hottest issues in the campaign - corruption and property taxes," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
Asked specifically about government corruption, 60 percent of New Jersey voters say it's a "very serious" problem, with 30 percent who say "somewhat serious."
Looking at corruption in government, 44 percent of likely voters see Corzine as part of the solution, while 37 percent see him as part of the problem. Forrester is part of the solution, 52 percent say, while 19 percent see him as part of the problem.
"Many voters did not focus on this election until after Labor Day and when they did they saw a Republican contender with more substance than they expected. Doug Forrester may not have as many millions to spend as Sen. Corzine, but it appears he has enough to get his message across. But don't forget that New Jersey is a Democratic state, as a lot of strong Republican candidates from President Bush on down have learned the hard way," Richards added.
New Jersey likely voters give Forrester a 39 - 16 percent favorability rating, with 25 percent mixed and 20 percent who haven't heard enough to form an opinion.
Corzine gets a 42 - 22 percent favorability rating, with 26 percent mixed and 10 percent who haven't heard enough to form an opinion.
