Print
E-mail
Poll: Lonegan, Christie Both Ahead Of Corzine In NJ Governor Race
 |
| Republican candidate for New Jersey governor Steve Lonegan sits on a table in his campaign headquarters yesterday. A new poll shows he is leading over Gov. Jon Corzine. (Mel Evans/Associated Press) |
By Bradley Vasoli, The Bulletin
Results of a Quinnipiac University survey released yesterday indicates former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan, R, polls ahead of Gov. Jon Corzine, D, with 42 to 40 percent.
Yet much stands in Mr. Lonegan’s way. The New Jersey GOP establishment has rebuffed the conservative ex-Mayor in favor of the moderate former federal prosecutor Chris Christie. Mr. Christie’s campaign has raised $3 million in contrast to Mr. Lonegan’s $500,000.
That wealth of support has translated to enviable poll numbers for the former U.S. attorney. He bests Mr. Lonegan 56 percent to 33 percent in Quinnipiac’s poll. And that survey also shows Mr. Christie beating the incumbent governor 45 percent to 38 percent.
Quinnipiac University Polling Institute Assistant Director Clay F. Richards said New Jersey’s dire economy has made Mr. Corzine ill-equipped to hang onto his post this November. The state faces an abysmal 8.4 percent unemployment rate while a gaping budget deficit has led the governor to cut back on popular property tax relief.
“The economy is just killing Corzine,” Mr. Richards said. “Corzine’s problem is Corzine, not his opponent. Things aren’t getting any better for the governor with this budget situation either.”
Mr. Lonegan supporters have seen the governor’s weakness as an opportunity to elect a strong economic conservative in this eminently populist and union-heavy state. But Mr. Richards said the prospect of beating an incumbent Democrat draws many Republicans to the reputedly more electable Mr. Christie.
“[Mr. Lonegan’s] losing heavily to the moderates and liberal Republicans,” Mr. Richards said. “They’re going heavily for Christie.”
The pollster also said Mr. Christie retains a strong reputation from his prosecutorial work, something New Jersey residents of various political stripes can likely appreciate.
“It’s not a situation of two unknowns going up against each other,” Mr. Richards said.
He added that he doesn’t see the former mayor increasing his theoretical margin over Mr. Corzine by very much.
Phil Kerpen, director of policy at the free-market Americans for Prosperity, an advocacy group for which Mr. Lonegan recently served as state director, said Mr. Christie’s strong poll showing doesn’t show New Jersey voters are staying unremittingly to the left. Mr. Christie, he said, has attacked Mr. Lonegan’s tax policy as exacting too much money from taxpayers.
“We’re not really seeing a move to the center,” Mr. Kerpen said. “We’re seeing a pretty pronounced shift to the right.”
He said a weak economy under a liberal governor has made the state’s residents more open to free-market ideas.
“The economy is everyone’s top issue by such a wide margin,” he said.
New Jersey holds its primary on June 2.
Bradley Vasoli can be reached at bvasoli@thebulletin.us
Yet much stands in Mr. Lonegan’s way. The New Jersey GOP establishment has rebuffed the conservative ex-Mayor in favor of the moderate former federal prosecutor Chris Christie. Mr. Christie’s campaign has raised $3 million in contrast to Mr. Lonegan’s $500,000.
That wealth of support has translated to enviable poll numbers for the former U.S. attorney. He bests Mr. Lonegan 56 percent to 33 percent in Quinnipiac’s poll. And that survey also shows Mr. Christie beating the incumbent governor 45 percent to 38 percent.
Quinnipiac University Polling Institute Assistant Director Clay F. Richards said New Jersey’s dire economy has made Mr. Corzine ill-equipped to hang onto his post this November. The state faces an abysmal 8.4 percent unemployment rate while a gaping budget deficit has led the governor to cut back on popular property tax relief.
“The economy is just killing Corzine,” Mr. Richards said. “Corzine’s problem is Corzine, not his opponent. Things aren’t getting any better for the governor with this budget situation either.”
Mr. Lonegan supporters have seen the governor’s weakness as an opportunity to elect a strong economic conservative in this eminently populist and union-heavy state. But Mr. Richards said the prospect of beating an incumbent Democrat draws many Republicans to the reputedly more electable Mr. Christie.
“[Mr. Lonegan’s] losing heavily to the moderates and liberal Republicans,” Mr. Richards said. “They’re going heavily for Christie.”
The pollster also said Mr. Christie retains a strong reputation from his prosecutorial work, something New Jersey residents of various political stripes can likely appreciate.
“It’s not a situation of two unknowns going up against each other,” Mr. Richards said.
He added that he doesn’t see the former mayor increasing his theoretical margin over Mr. Corzine by very much.
Phil Kerpen, director of policy at the free-market Americans for Prosperity, an advocacy group for which Mr. Lonegan recently served as state director, said Mr. Christie’s strong poll showing doesn’t show New Jersey voters are staying unremittingly to the left. Mr. Christie, he said, has attacked Mr. Lonegan’s tax policy as exacting too much money from taxpayers.
“We’re not really seeing a move to the center,” Mr. Kerpen said. “We’re seeing a pretty pronounced shift to the right.”
He said a weak economy under a liberal governor has made the state’s residents more open to free-market ideas.
“The economy is everyone’s top issue by such a wide margin,” he said.
New Jersey holds its primary on June 2.
Bradley Vasoli can be reached at bvasoli@thebulletin.us
 |
 |
|
| Lawmaker Fights To Keep Jobs Here | Pakistan Denies It Is Expanding Nuclear Arsenal |
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of thebulletin.us.
You must register with a valid email to post comments. Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here: |
Become a Registered User |
RussOCNJ wrote on May 21, 2009 2:33 PM:
-The only difference between Corzine and Christie is that you will be paying for the Regular Republican party hacks instead of the Democrat hacks.
-If Christie wins the primary I am undecided who to vote for in the November ... It will be either PA, NC or FL.
-Christie/Corzine wants to increase the school year and the school day ... and increase your property taxes.
-Christie wants to cut taxes, give rebates, and hire all his buddies. No wonder he problems with Math in school, it doesn't add up. "