A Rutgers-Eagleton Poll released today found that 37% say New Jersey is going in the right direction, while 43% say it has gone off on the wrong track. Two in 10 (20%) are unsure.
Results are from a statewide poll of 1,004 adults contacted through the probability-based Rutgers-Eagleton/SSRS Garden State Panel from Sept. 24-27. The full sample has a margin of error of +/- 4.1 percentage points.
Of course, these are the numbers of the combined audience. Breaking down the results by party, gender provides greater insight.
Party: The sharpest divide comes along party lines.
- Republicans: 78% wrong track, 14% right direction
- Democrats: 53% right direction, 22% wrong track, 25% unsure
- Independents: 42% wrong track, 35% right direction
Race: White and Black residents see the state very differently.
- White: 51% wrong track, 32% right direction
- Black: 48% right direction, 25% wrong track
- Hispanic: 39% right direction, 38% wrong track
- Other: 45% right direction, 30% wrong track
Gender: There’s little difference between men and women.
- Men: 44% wrong track, 39% right direction
- Women: 41% wrong track, 36% right direction, 23% unsure
Age: Middle-aged residents are the most frustrated.
- 18-34: 40% right direction, 33% wrong track, 27% unsure
- 35-49: 49% wrong track, 32% right direction
- 50-64: 47% wrong track, 32% right direction
- 65+: Evenly split, 43% to 43%
Ashley Koning, the director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling at Rutgers-New Brunswick, said the numbers tell a positive story for Sherrill.
“New Jerseyans are largely giving Sherrill credit for how she has responded to a problem inside her own administration,” Koning said. “She brought in an outside investigator and then called publicly for her own lieutenant governor to resign, and most residents read that as accountability rather than protecting her own or politics as usual.
“It’s a continuation of Sherrill’s themes of transparency and responsibility that began on the campaign trail and have been emphasized throughout her first year.”
Koning said her handling of the situation enabled her to maintain the view many have of her.
“Nine months into her term, Gov. Sherrill’s approval numbers look much like they did at 100 days, which in this political climate – and after a challenging summer – is itself an accomplishment,” she said. “She continues to draw more positive reactions than negative ones.”
