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(Angus Reid Global Scan) – Robert Menendez could earn a full term as one of New Jersey’s representatives to the United States Senate, according to a poll by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. 43 per cent of respondents in the Garden State would vote for the former Democratic U.S. congressman, while 36 per cent would support Republican New Jersey state senator Tom Kean Jr.
(Angus Reid Global Scan) – Robert Menendez could earn a full term as one of New Jersey’s representatives to the United States Senate, according to a poll by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. 43 per cent of respondents in the Garden State would vote for the former Democratic U.S. congressman, while 36 per cent would support Republican New Jersey state senator Tom Kean Jr.
Two per cent of respondents would vote for someone else, and 17 per cent remain undecided. Support for Menendez increased by three points since March while backing for Kean remained stable.
In the November 2005 gubernatorial election, Jon Corzine—a Democrat—defeated Republican candidate Doug Forrester with 54 per cent of all cast ballots. Corzine had served as New Jersey’s junior senator since 2001. Menendez will serve out the remaining one year of Corzine’s Senate term.
Last week, Kane criticized Menendez’s tenure, saying, “I’ve been fighting for reform whereas Bob Menendez has not; he has been fighting for the status quo. We need people who are fighting for reform, who are independent. My career has shown I am an independent reformer.”
Menendez campaign spokesman Matthew Miller said the Republican candidate was attempting to smear the incumbent to “cover up his record and cover up his close alliance with George Bush.”
The election is scheduled for Nov. 7. New Jersey has not had a Republican U.S. senator since Clifford Case, who served from 1955 to 1979.
Polling Data
If the 2006 election for United States Senator were being held today and the candidates were Robert Menendez the Democrat and Tom Kean Jr. the Republican, for whom would you vote?
Jul. 2006 | Mar. 2006 | Jan. 2006 | |
Robert Menendez (D) | 43% | 40% | 38% |
Tom Kean Jr. (R) | 36% | 36% | 36% |
Someone else | 2% | 3% | 1% |
Would not vote | 2% | 2% | 2% |
Not sure | 17% | 19% | 22% |
Source: Quinnipiac University Polling Institute
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,099 registered New Jersey voters, conducted from Jun. 7 to Jun. 13, 2006. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
