Raleigh, N.C. – While New Jersey failed to legalize same-sex marriage when it came to a vote in the state senate in 2010, now the Garden State is in favor of following in New York’s footsteps. By a 47-42 margin, New Jersey voters feel same-sex marriage should be legal. Those aged 30-45 come out strongest in support of legal same-sex marriage in New Jersey, with 55% in support and 35% opposed. New Jersey currently allows civil unions, and when they are added as an option, voters are split between marriage and civil unions. 41% favor marriage to 40% for civil unions, while 17% oppose all recognition.
Frank Lautenberg, New Jersey’s senator not up for re-election until 2014, achieves only tepid approval, with 41% of voters approving compared to 36% who disapprove. Lautenberg achieves decent number among Democrats, 62-15, but garners little crossover support from Republicans, 12-63, and is narrowly underwater with independents, 38-40.
While Lautenberg’s approval is nothing to write home about, Lautenberg can take solace in that he is far more popular than his predecessor, Robert Torricelli. While most seem to have forgotten Torricelli, of those who have an opinion, only 10% see him favorably, compared to 33% who see him unfavorably. Similarly, New Jersey voters have poor opinions of their former governors. Only 31% see Christie Todd Whitman favorably, compared to a 52% majority who see her unfavorably. Jim McGreevey achieves an even worse spread, rating 19-64. On the other hand, New Jerseyans love former Senator Bill Bradley, giving him a 56-14 rating. Even Republicans like Bradley, rating him positively by more than a 2:1 margin, 47-21.
As for the state legislature, voters are prepared to re-elect the Democratic majorities. By a 52-39 margin, voters say they would choose the Democrat over the Republican in their district. Democrats and Republicans are united behind their parties, while independents are split, giving Democrats the edge in Democratic-leaning New Jersey.
PPP surveyed 480 New Jersey voters from July 15th to 18th. The margin of error for the survey is +/-4.5%. This poll was not paid for or authorized by any campaign or political organization. PPP surveys are conducted through automated telephone interviews. PPP is a Democratic polling company, but polling expert Nate Silver of the New York Times found that its surveys in 2010 actually exhibited a slight bias toward Republican candidates.
Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.
Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator
Frank Lautenberg’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 41%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 36%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 23%
Q2 Do you think same-sex marriage should be
legal or illegal?
Legal……………………………………………………… 47%
Illegal …………………………………………………….. 42%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 11%
Q3 Which of the following best describes your
opinion on gay marriage: gay couples should
be allowed to legally marry, or gay couples
should be allowed to form civil unions but not
legally marry, or there should be no legal
recognition of a gay couple’s relationship?
Gay couples should be allowed to legally
marry ……………………………………………………..41%
Gay couples should be allowed to form civil
unions but not marry …………………………………40%
There should be no legal recognition of a gay
couple’s relationship …………………………………17%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 2%
Q4 If there was an election for the State
Legislature, would you vote for the Democratic
or Republican candidate from your district?
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 52%
Republican……………………………………………… 39%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 9%
Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Christie Whitman?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 31%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 52%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 18%
Q6 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Jim McGreevey?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 19%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 64%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 17%
Q7 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Bill Bradley?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 56%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 14%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 31%
Q8 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Robert Torricelli?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 10%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 33%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 56%
Q9 Who did you vote for President in 2008?
John McCain…………………………………………… 39%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 53%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 9%
Q10 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 12%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 18%
Moderate………………………………………………… 36%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 22%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 12%
Q11 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 52%
Man……………………………………………………….. 48%
Q12 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If a Republican,
press 2. If you are an independent or identify
with another party, press 3.
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 46%
Republican……………………………………………… 32%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 22%
Q13 If you are white, press 1. If other, press 2
White …………………………………………………….. 70%
Other……………………………………………………… 30%
Q14 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1. If 30 to
45, press 2. If 46 to 65, press 3. If you are
older than 65, press 4.
18 to 29………………………………………………….. 10%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 27%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 49%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 14%
