New Jersey voters say 52 - 39 percent, with Democrats divided, that U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez should resign, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
Voters say 54 - 23 percent that Sen. Menendez is not honest and trustworthy, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University Poll finds.
Calling for Menendez' ouster are Republicans 61 - 32 percent and independent voters 51 - 40 percent, while Democrats are divided 46 - 44 percent on whether he should stay or go.
Democrats say 43 - 34 percent that Menendez is not honest and trustworthy, with even bigger margins among Republicans and independent voters.
Looking at the federal grand jury indictment of Menendez, 45 percent of voters, including 39 percent of Democrats say he did something "illegal," while 38 percent of voters, including 43 percent of Democrats, say he did "something unethical but nothing illegal." Only 8 percent of voter say he did not do anything "seriously wrong," with 9 percent undecided.
"The accusation is enough, voters say; U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez should quit. Even almost half of his fellow Democrats think so," said Quinnipiac University Poll Assistant Director Maurice Carroll.
"More than 80 percent of New Jerseyans think what the senator did was illegal or at least unethical, but hardly anyone believes he's blameless.
"Sen. Menendez' supporters say there was a missing middle in the bribery charge - a quid pro quo with plenty of quid and quo but no 'pro' to link them. A veteran of Hudson County's bare-knuckle politics, Menendez has lined up support in his fight to survive."
"But New Jerseyans don't support his counter-attack. A lot of them think the U.S. attorney acted politically, but more think the charges are factual," Carroll added.
New Jersey voters give Menendez a negative 35 - 46 percent job approval rating, down from a positive 46 - 33 percent approval rating in a January 21 Quinnipiac University poll and the senator's worst net approval rating ever.
Disapproval is 56 - 29 percent among Republicans and 51 - 30 percent among independent voters, while Democrats approve 44 - 37 percent.
The prosecution of Menendez is based on the facts, 46 percent of voters say, while 39 percent say it is politically motivated.
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New Jersey voters approve 53 - 44 percent of the job President Barack Obama is doing, up from a negative 45 - 52 percent approval rating January 21, and the president's best score in a year.
Voters approve 64 - 28 percent of the U.S. initiative to re-establish diplomatic relations with Cuba, with approval at 60 percent or higher among Democrats, independent voters, men, women and all age groups. Republicans disapprove 57 - 36 percent.
New Jersey voters support 56 - 38 percent the preliminary agreement with Iran to lift economic sanctions in exchange for Iran restricting its nuclear program.
Again, there is strong approval among all listed groups, except Republicans, who are opposed 68 - 28 percent.
Voters approve 52 - 20 percent of the job U.S. Sen. Cory Booker is doing, compared to 51 - 25 percent January 21.
"On the two issues where Menendez is fighting President Barack Obama, the deal with Iran and rebuilding ties with Cuba - voters support Obama, not Menendez," Carroll said.
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From April 9 - 14, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,428 New Jersey voters, with a margin of error of +/- 2.6 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones.
http://www.quinnipiac.edu/news-and-events/quinnipiac-university-poll/new-jersey/release-detail?ReleaseID=2187
