Obama, Menendez Remain Vulnerable in N.J.

By Steven Shepard  //  October 13, 2011 | 6:06 a.m.
Updated: October 14, 2011 | 4:00 p.m.

A new Quinnipiac University poll released early Thursday shows that President Obama's approval rating in the reliably-blue state of New Jersey is at a record-low, and voters are split on reelecting Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., complicating Democrats' efforts to retain control of the chamber.

The percentage of New Jersey voters who approve of the job Obama is doing as president has sunk to 43 percent, a point lower than a mid-August Quinnipiac survey. Fifty-two percent of voters disapprove of his job performance, identical to the previous poll.

Only 34 percent of independent voters approve of the job Obama is doing, while 60 percent disapprove. There is also a wide gender gap: Three-in-five men disapprove of his job performance, but half of women approve.

Voters are split evenly on whether Obama deserves to be reelected, with 47 percent saying that he does, and 48 percent saying he does not.

Despite his poor job ratings, Obama has slight advantages over the top Republican contenders in general election matchups, leading former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (47 percent-41 percent), Texas Gov. Rick Perry (49-36) and businessman Herman Cain (47-38), in the first head-to-head matchups Quinnipiac has conducted thus far in the state.

Meanwhile, though his approval rating was underwater two months ago, Menendez's numbers have ticked up slightly: Now, 42 percent of voters approve of his job performance, while 35 percent disapprove. In August, 39 percent approved, and 42 percent disapproved. Forty percent of voters feel that Menendez deserves to be reelected, while 38 percent think he does not deserve reelection. Two months ago, 43 percent thought he did not deserve to be reelected. Matched up against a generic Republican, Menendez has a slim lead, 42 percent to 39 percent. Independents prefer a generic Republican candidate, 42 percent to 35 percent. Menendez "doesn't have a 2012 opponent yet, but he ought to be watchful," said Quinnipiac University Polling Institute director Mickey Carroll. "His job approval and 'deserves reelection' scores are pallid and even Democratic disapprovers are in the double digits," Carroll said. The Quinnipiac poll was conducted Oct. 5-10, surveying 1,186 registered voters. The margin of error is +/- 2.9 percent.

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