President Barack Obama’s popularity in New Jersey would not necessarily translate into a significant boost for Gov. Jon Corzine, according to a poll released today by Fairleigh Dickinson University’s PublicMind, while Democrats will assuredly do everything they can to keep talk radio phenom Rush Limbaugh inflated in the public consciousness during a gubernatorial election year.
“While 25% of voters – most of them Democrats – say they would be more likely to vote for Corzine in this year’s elections if Obama campaigned for him, this is offset by the 23% of voters – most of them Republicans – who say that they would be less likely to vote for Corzine,” said Dan Cassino, professor of political science at Fairleigh Dickinson.
“A plurality of voters (48%), say it wouldn’t make a difference to them,” Cassino added. “Moreover, while 51% say the country is headed in the right direction, only 25% say the state is headed in the right direction, a number essentially unchanged from many previous measures. Still, he’d rather have a popular president come to the state than not come, and it may benefit him with turnout.”
Sworn into office six weeks ago, Obama has an early and decided bounce here. For the first time since April 2003, a majority of New Jersey voters say the country is headed in the right direction, up from a low of 13% before November’s elections, according to the poll.
The president enjoys a 66% job approval rating, broken down among Democrats, independents and Republicans respectively as 89%, 57% and 36%. Both liberals and moderates hold very positive views of the new president, with 86% and 74% approving of his job performance along with 41% of self-described conservatives.
“Traditionally, a presidential honeymoon – during which he enjoys broad support among voters – lasts for about six months,” said Cassino. “Absent a brief spike here or there caused by a sudden crisis, these are the highest approval numbers Obama can expect to see during his time in office.”
Conversely, Republican talk show giant Limbaugh, the president’s most high profile antagonist, registered a 19% favorability rating among those 89% of New Jersey respondents who said they had heard of Limbaugh. 46% say they have an unfavorable view and just 7% of voters who like Limbaugh also say they approve of Obama’s job performance.
