Rasmussen (1/13, likely voters, no trendlines):
Jon Corzine (D-inc): 40
Chris Christie (R): 42
Other: 5
Undecided: 13
(MoE: ±4%)
I remain convinced that this race is not like the last however many statewide races in New Jersey, where a not especially well-liked Dem beat a much less likable Republican. Perhaps Corzine can be saved by his money and Obama and Biden campaigning for him. Perhaps.
And maybe Christie will sputter once he hits the trail in earnest – this is his first real run for office, apart from an election some years ago as a Morris County freeholder. (A “freeholder” is New Jersey’s term for a county legislator.) Then again, Christie Whitman’s entire elective experience before beating Jim Florio in 1993? Somerset County freeholder.
UPDATE: Another poll, this one from Monmouth University (1/12-14, registered voters, no trendlines):
Jon Corzine (D-inc): 38
Chris Christie (R): 36Jon Corzine (D-inc): 45
Steve Lonegan (R): 29Jon Corzine (D-inc): 41
Rick Merkt (R): 27Jon Corzine (D-inc): 44
Brian Levine (R): 27(MoE: ±4.8%)
Levine (whom we did not canvass in our look at FDU’s recent poll) is the supposedly moderate Republican mayor of Franklin Twp., a largely Democratic township of about 50,000 people in wealthy Somserset County, located in north-central Jersey. I don’t believe Levine has formally declared yet, but he has formed an exploratory committee.
Didn’t Rasmussen also have Lautenberg tied with Dick Zimmer?
Corzine – 54
Christie – 46
Hopefully the Republican party wastes untold millions on New Jersey as they usually do.
The Todd stands for some prior governor?
Hm, Wikipedia doesn’t mention a prior governor and only says that the Todds, Schleys, and Whitmans (father’s, mother’s, and husband’s names respectively) were all pretty political. There’s a governor of New York a few generations back on the Whitman side. Does anyone know anything more?
Anyway, my point was supposed to be that if your name is something like Shelley Moore Capito or Beau Biden, the previous office you held is not really what people are evaluating you on when they elect you to office. So just because Christie Todd Whitman can get elected with no experience beyond freeholder doesn’t necessarily mean some other guy can.
Why exactly is Corzine in such hot water? That’s a really unfortunate thing to force yourself to accept. Even Stoller likes Corzine.
Let me count the ways…
Doubling the state budget
Raising taxes and fees
Raised tools on Parkway and Turnpike and tried to monetize them
COAH regulations
Failure to make tough decisions on the budget while he waits for Obama bailouts
The guy’s been a disaster for New Jersey. In fact the entire Democratic Party is destroying NJ.
By the way, there’s a very strong chance Christie doesn’t even win this nomination. Lonegan has a million bucks already and an army of very motivated people with him.