April 30, 2008 - 8:44am
Poll: Lautenberg leads Andrews in Senate race; Zimmer leads GOP pack
By Editor
Category: US SenateTags: poll, U.S. Senate, Frank Lautenberg, Murray Sabrin, Monmouth University, Joe Pennacchio, Donald Cresitello, DICK ZIMMER, ROB ANDREWS, Gannett New Jersey
Sen. Frank Lautenberg leads Rep. Ron Andrews by a 35%-20% margin in the Democratic U.S. Senate primary, with Morristown Mayor Donald Cresitello at 8%, according to a new Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey poll released today. Lautenberg has 59%-19% approval rating among New Jersey Democrats, and a 48%-31% statewide approval. Andrews has a 13%-15% approval rating among Democratic voters and just 44% of Democrats recognize his name. But 61% of voters – and 56% of Democrats -- say its time for a new person in the Senate, and just 26% say the 84-year-old Lautenberg should be re-elected.
Voters are split on whether Lautenberg is getting too old to be an effective Senator: 41% say he is, but 46% say he’s not.
“Saying you want new blood is a far cry from actually voting against a seasoned incumbent,” said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute. “While we did not run a true likely voter match-up for the Senate primaries, the poll indicates that Democratic voters appear unwilling to oust Lautenberg.”
Former Rep. Dick Zimmer has a wide lead among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents in a contest where none of the three candidates are well-known. Zimmer is at 25%, followed by State Sen. Joseph Pennacchio at 5% and Ramapo College Professor Murray Sabrin at 4%.
“The Republican contenders don’t seem to be generating a lot of enthusiasm among GOP voters,” said poll director Murray.
More than half of New Jersey voters (54%) say they want to keep the Senate seat in Democratic hands – this seat has been held by the Democrats since 1959, and the GOP hasn’t won a U.S. Senate race in New Jersey since 1972.
Contributors
Wally Edge
Joe Ferriero's recent legal woes -- allegations that he assaulted a woman at a Labor Day barbecue at his home, and a federal probe of a grants ... >
Bob Torricelli
There's something missing from the Republican Convention. There is a need for a camera behind the curtain where speakers greet ... >
Michael Patrick Carroll
Barack Obama offers a hard-left vision for America. He would take NJ's disastrous economic policies national, and the resulting economic ... >
Debbie Holtz
Selecting the next NJN anchor will certainly be a different process than what happens at the major networks, local affiliates and other public ... >
Steve Lonegan
Tibet – the broad, high plateau between India and China – is bigger than Western Europe and the source of the great rivers of Asia: the Indus, ... >
Dr. Joseph Marbach
For the past few weeks, I've watched with fascination as politician after politician have appeared on a beach or a boardwalk and declared their ... >
Rob Tornoe
To view a larger version of this cartoon, click here. >
Michael P. Riccards
Speaker Nancy Pelosi, on Meet the Press, made a statement that incurred the wrath of members of the Catholic bishops club. She dared to say that ... >
Joey Novick
And now we go back in time, to Mr. Dembo's eighth grade science class and JHS 278, and a sixteen millimeter film about the seasonal migration of ... >
Juan Melli
Poll
is Chris Christie running for Governor?
Yes
54%
No
2%
I don't know
8%
I don't care
37%
PolitickerNJ Partners
SPONSORED BY:
| Politicker INTERACTIVE | |
 |
The Pindell Report Keep up with the races in your state |
 |
Lawmaker Profile Follow the funding of your representatives |
 |
270 to Win Predict the road to the White House |
Top Tags
Most Active Stories
- Ferriero will take leave as Bergen Dem Chairman
- Andrews will seek re-election to House
- The Ballad of Governor Sarah Palin
- Federal court effectively kills NJ clean elections
- Pallone wants Christie to release personal schedules for last two years
- Merkt mulling bid for Governor
- Star-Ledger report: Ferreiro investigated for assault
- Torricelli on the Republican National Convention
- Editorial boards beat the crap out of Andrews
- Christie met with Beck to discuss '09 campaign, Lt. Governor
- Dr. Bones goes to Washington
- PoliticsNJ.com Power List 2007
- DOHERTY: NEW SCIENTIFIC DATA JUSTIFIES REPEALING GLOBAL WARMING RESPONSE ACT
- Eleven arrested in bribery scandal
- Lyndhurst GOP, nearly all of them, switching parties
- Lobbyist arrested
- Governor Paralysis
- Who is the best State Party Chairman in New Jersey
- KYRILLOS, BECK, KEAN & HANDLIN VOW WORK TO KEEP SEASTREAK FERRY UP AND RUNNING
- Torricelli on COAH
Quote of the Day
September 5, 2008
"A bare-faced liar. Rob Andrews lied. Plain and simple." -- A Philadelphia Inquirer editorial on Andrews' decision to seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives.
-Philadelphia Inquirer, 09/05/08
Recent Press Releases
In the News
Read the expanded Wake Up Call, our summary of today’s news media coverage.
Today’s Must Reads:
Politicker Poaches From Politico― News from Politicker.com
Xanadu bill footnote may weigh on Corzine― CHARLES STILE
Zoffinger not one to deny beliefs, avoid controversy― 'Codey's an idiot, and you can print that'
Welcome to New Jersey, Media Wasteland― NEW YORK OBSERVER
Divorce McGreevey style ― ALFRED DOBLIN
The judge got it right ― JAMES AHEARN
Capital Games― HERB JACKSON
Teen will get chance to sue a top N.J. judge ― ROBERTO RIVERA-SOTO
Mayor refusing to apologize for anti-Semitic slur ― WOODCLIFF LAKE
Court decision likely to have far-reaching implications in N.J. ― EMINENT DOMAIN
PolitickerNJ.com Jobs
Syndicate
Sad part for Republicans is
Sad part for Republicans is that Dick Zimmer a former congressman and state-wide candidate is only at 25% (I would have expected (45-55%). Joe is in trouble-with his radio ads last year and representing one of the strongest GOP districts in the state- to be under 10% is bad. Where is all of his county-organizational support? What is Ortiz/Florio/Sette doing for him? Come on Joe, don't let pride make you look like a clown. It is not much better for Sabrin (state-wide as well), but his advantage is that he has been on tv all week, I got a piece of mail from him over the weekend, and they have are fundraising quickly according to his website. So, I think this race is even money, which is good news for Sabrin.
However, the worst part for Republicans is that 54% want the Ds to control the senate and Obama will play well in NJ.
Monmouh University?
How can you get any poll from the school that is a joke? All the HS kids know that it is their life-preserver. If they don't think they can get into college because of lousy grades, they apply to Monmouth University. Monmouth is known to accept anyone, so just in case they get turned down from decent colleges, they will at least get into Monmouth. Ask any High School Guidance Chancellor and they will verify it.
Only a college with low standards could come up with a poll showing Dicky in the lead for the GOP. Sabrin's fiscal responsibility might be a threat to govrnment handouts to colleges, so they might be void of any objectivity.
If Republicans don't vote for Murray Sabrin they'll get Dick!
"Competition is mearly the absense of oppression." ~ Frederic Bastiat
I wonder if Sabrin will continue....
to refer to himself as a frontrunner. His campaign has been one bad joke.
Are You Sure They Polled Republicans Here?
Zimmer is seriously not a Republican who gets people excited. I could see if it was Scott Garrett or heck even Chris Smith, but Zimmer may seriously be to the left of Rob Andrews.
Don't take your anger out on MU Joe...
While I'm iffy on the Obama vs. McCain head to head matchup poll done, the rest of the polls make a lot of sense and follow other poll trends, especially Governor Corzine's approval ratings (or lack there of).
I know Monmouth University's polling director well and the polls they do are almost always accurate and follow trends, if not set the trends for other polls. They do a solid job.
While I'm not currently at Monmouth University this semester, I was there long enough to know that the school has consistantly improved. It's certainly not as easy to get in as it used to be years ago and the expectations are raised there. Not to mention, I can not speak highly enough of their political science department, they have an extremely dedicated and intelligent staff of professors.
Trust me, Monmouth University does not have low standards at all. They may or may not have had it years ago, but over the years they have greatly improved and raised the bar on incoming students. I'm hoping to end up back at Monmouth University to finish getting my BA after spending this semester at Brookdale.
Double Post...
n/t
No need to attack Monmouth
This is an early poll. Zimmer is riding off name recognition from being torched by the Torch in 1996, the older GOP voting base remembers that. In fact, considering that 25% is unimpressive.
The Democrats are far more interesting. Lautenberg has slipped from a majority to barely a third. Combined Lautenberg barely leads his challengers. 8% for Cresitello means change is in the air and that Democrats will oust Frank on June 3 and nominate Rob Andrews.
Obama, Andrews
If the McCain poll numbers (24% behind Obama) are correct, or even if they only bounce back a few percentage points, then Republicans statewide are in trouble downticket -- and that's besides losing N.J.'s electoral votes and the U.S. senate race to Andrews (hopefully) or Lautenberg. I think this poll puts to rest any hopes N.J. Republicans had that the national party will put money into statewide races, though they may defend NJ-03 and NJ-07 with what scarce resources they have available. With over a month left in the campaign, and Rob working tirelessly to get his message out in townhall meetings and through public debates (if Lautenberg will ever agree to one), I like the chances with only being 15% behind. A superior GOTV operation for Andrews, and more motivated supporters, should also help in the low turnout Democratic primary.
What kind of poll is this?
I am not sure what to make out of this poll at all. The numbers seem to be off the wall in my opinion.
Sabrin with such a low number?
Says something about the electorate's memory.
With an expected 10% turnout in this Primary, I can see a Sabrin v Andrews showdown. The other candidates seem to be ignoring the stats.
joke
sabrin and andrews are more of a joke than this poll is. i cant wait till i dont have to hear from either one of them anymore.
Monmouth U.
Speaking of government handouts to colleges, who owns Ramapo? And all those colleges and schools Murray went to; who pays for them?
Looks tired
Time to debate
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6m-Ca0jT7zc
Lautenberg's achilles heal
It's hypocritical for Lautenberg to talk about Iraq when his best buddy on the US Senate is Joe Lieberman, the biggest supporter of the war!
Lautenberg endorsed Lieberman for re-election against Ned Lamont and I believe he endorsed Joe for president in 2004.
Vote Column - All the way!