NJ Topics Public Opinion

Border

Should U.S. or Local Authorities Judge Border's Security? Americans Divided

Bare plurality thinks responsibility sits with DHS, and only 13 percent would give the power to Congress.
Tom Corbett

Next Stop In Abortion Debate: Pennsylvania

After the social wars of the 1990s and the "war on women" last year, you might be forgiven for thinking the abortion debate was moving out of electoral politics. But that's not the case; expect a big debate over abortion rights in Pennsylvania next year. That's because Gov. Tom Corbett on Monday si...
Rick Scott

Poll: Rick Scott Makes Gains in Florida

Florida Gov. Rick Scott is in a better position to be reelected today than he was just three months ago, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released Tuesday morning. The survey shows him with his highest-ever approval and favorability ratings and making gains on his highest-profile potent...
Syria

Slip-Sliding Toward Obama’s Third War

The president "owns Syria now," but does he realize it?
Mark Udall during a Q&A session

Udall Bucks the Anti-Dem Trend in Colorado Poll

In a new Quinnipiac University poll filled with bad trends for Gov. John Hickenlooper, poor ratings for President Obama, and lackluster early numbers for 2016 Democratic presidential contenders, Sen. Mark Udall's, D-Colo., approval ratings stand out as a possible bright spot for his party. The firs...
Barack Obama

Economy Expectations May Be Giving Obama a Lift

The recovery may be offsetting any recent controversies that would otherwise hurt the president's approval rating. 
Edward Snowden

Edward Snowden Is Completely Wrong

Whether he's a hero or traitor, Americans are already so acclimated to the loss of privacy that his revelations won't unnerve them much. 
John Hickenlooper

Poll: Tancredo Ties Sliding Hickenlooper in Colorado

Before Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper is the subject of any more 2016 presidential speculation, he has a little business to take care of at home. The first-term Democrat's approval ratings have fallen sharply this year, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll which also shows Hickenlooper tie...
Ed Markey

New Mass. Senate Polls a Mixed Bag for Both Candidates

Two new polls released in the last 18 hours show Democratic Rep. Edward Markey with a 7-point lead over Republican Gabriel Gomez in the June 25 special election in Massachusetts for the Senate seat previously held by Secretary of State John Kerry. Though the polls do contain good news for Gomez -- p...
Roy Blunt

Why the GOP Isn't Attacking Obama Over Data Collection

Recent reports that showed the breadth of the government’s secret information-gathering have divided congressional Republicans.
Syria Civil War

How America Lost Its Nerve

Policymakers used to believe in a forceful projection of American authority. But after Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya, they are turning inward. 
Galup

Gallup Post Mortem Leads To Polling Changes

The world's best-known polling firm has 4 reasons for why they badly miscalculated the election outcome.  
Danny Werfel

Back in Session, Congress Returns Attention to IRS

Congress returns from a weeklong recess with inquiries into the Internal Revenue Service still atop its agenda, as three more hearings have been set and a lawsuit has been filed in federal court.

Are Republicans Warming to Climate Change?

Maybe a little bit, according to a recent Gallup poll showing increased concern over global warming among Republicans, many of whom have in the past considered climate change a false threat. Those looking for reasons to worry can turn to the the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Summary for Policymakers, which lists several global warming hazards driving public concerns. If carbon emissions continue to outstrip environmental goals such as the 2009 Copenhagen Accord, the likelihood of these threats will grow.
Barbara Buono

Barbara Buono's Jon Corzine Problem

Jon Corzine is avoiding the spotlight in New Jersey. At an event billed as "The Governor's Summit" in Newark on Thursday, Corzine will be the only living former Garden State governor not in attendance -- and he reportedly didn't even reply to the invitation. But his name and image are becoming fixtu...
Obama and Christie meet and greet

Jersey Shore Reunion: What's in It for Obama and Christie?

The president and the GOP governor get together on the coast for a visit freighted with politics.
E.W. Jackson

Can You Still Win an Election If You’re Against Gay People?

A candidate for lieutenant governor in Virginia who might have done well a decade ago now faces an increasingly tolerant electorate. 
Weiner Resigns

As Weiner Launches Mayoral Campaign, Poll Still Shows Him in 2nd Place

Disgraced former Rep. Anthony Weiner formally unveiled his campaign to become New York City's mayor late on Tuesday, and just a few hours later, a new Quinnipiac University poll shows Weiner remains in second place in September's Democratic primary following his six-week trial balloon. With Christi...
Obama in Austin

Why Republicans Think the IRS Scandal Is More Politically Potent Than Benghazi

GOP strategists give advice on the best way to talk about the brewing scandals for political benefit.
Terry McAuliffe and Ken Cuccinelli

Poll: McAuliffe Holds Slight Lead in Va. Gov. Race

Former Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe has taken a slight lead over Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli in Virginia's gubernatorial race, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released on Thursday morning. McAuliffe leads Cuccinelli, 43 percent to 38 percent, with 17 perce...
Obama Holder

Scandals Tailor-Made For GOP Base

George W. Bush lost control of Congress when voters lost trust of his ability to manage government. Obama faces the same threat in 2014.
Former Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., announces his resignation from Congress, amid the intense controversy surrounding sexually explicit messages he sent online to several women.

Weiner's Spending Dwindled in Past Two Months

Anthony Weiner is still mulling whether to mount a run for mayor of New York this fall, and the former Democratic congressman's latest campaign filings do not indicate any concrete movement in that direction that haven't previously been disclosed. The filings, which cover from March 12 through this...
food truck

How Can Conservatives Win Over Young Voters? Go For Their Guts.

It's a lot easier to get young voters to care about government overreach if you're talking about food trucks.
Chris Christie

The Coming GOP Civil War Over Climate Change

Science, storms, and demographics are starting to change minds among the rank and file. 
Max Baucus and Dave Camp

Overhauling the Tax Code With 'Max and Dave'

Max Baucus and Dave Camp, Congress's top tax-writers, are taking their message to the Internet in hopes of building public support for their efforts.
Obama and Clinton

Why Benghazi is a Blow to Obama and Clinton

Both parties are wrong about the scandal: It’s not Watergate and it’s not nothing.

In Massachusetts, Kids Poll the Darndest Things

The first post-primary poll in next month's Massachusetts Senate special election was released Thursday, but while the survey carried the name of a prominent Boston university, it wasn't conducted by the school or its faculty. The automated poll was conducted by a newly-reinstated student group on c...
John Boehner

Why Isn't Boehner a Target in Congressional Elections?

Democrats haven't gotten around to demonizing the House speaker the way Republicans have with Nancy Pelosi.
Toomey

Toomey Records Highest Approval Rating Yet After Sponsoring Gun Amendment

Though the background-check amendment co-sponsored by Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., failed last week to earn enough votes to be adopted, Toomey's standing among Pennsylvania voters is now at the highest point of his two-plus-year term, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released on Friday. Too...
Youth unemployment

Millennials Are the Unluckiest Generation

Entering the workforce during a recession puts young people behind from the start. 
Boston bombing memorial

5 Ways the Boston Bombings Altered the Political Debate

From immigration to drones, the attacks had an impact on the presidential agenda.
Harry Reid

Round Two for Gun Control May Take a ‘Next Newtown’

A week after gun legislation suffered a stinging defeat in the Senate, an uncomfortable realization has settled over the Capitol that it will likely take another mass shooting or similar tragedy to reignite momentum for gun control.
Barbara Buono

Poll: Buono Still Not Gaining Traction in N.J.

New Jersey state Sen. Barbara Buono is finding out that it's difficult to close a 30-plus-point gap in the polls when roughly four out of five voters don't know anything about you. A new Quinnipiac University poll released early Wednesday shows Buono, the almost-certain Democratic nominee in this y...
Eric Garcetti

Poll Shows Garcetti Leading Greuel in L.A. Mayoral Runoff

City Councilman Eric Garcetti holds a 10-point lead over Controller Wendy Greuel with a month to go before the May 21 runoff to become Los Angeles' next mayor, according to a new USC Price/Los Angeles Times poll released Sunday. The poll, featured on the front page of the Times' Sunday editions, sh...
Markey Lynch

Poll: Markey Leads Lynch By 10 Points As Campaigns Set to Resume

With a little more than a week left before the special election primary in Massachusetts, Rep. Edward Markey holds a 10-point lead in the Democratic primary over Rep. Stephen Lynch, according to a Western New England University Polling Institute survey unveiled late Saturday by the Republican of Spr...
Rob Portman

Poll: Portman's Approval Rating Slips After Marriage Stance

Sen. Rob Portman's, R-Ohio, approval ratings have dropped marginally since he announced he supported same-sex marriage last month, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Friday. The poll shows Portman with 40 percent approval, while 31 percent of voters take a negative view of his job pe...
Lizzie Lee

The Way to Combat Terrorism

America can persevere by embracing diversity.
John Kasich

Poll: Kasich Leads Dems FitzGerald, Cordray

While Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald solidifies his frontrunner status for the Democratic nomination, he trails Gov. John Kasich in a potential general election matchup, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday. Kasich owns a 46-percent-to-37-percent edge over FitzGerald...
Anthony Weiner Rehab

Poll: Weiner Would Start Mayoral Race in Second Place

Disgraced former Rep. Anthony Weiner is asking for "a second chance," and a new poll released late Tuesday night shows Weiner in second place among New York City Democratic voters in this September's primary. The poll, conducted for WNBC-TV by the Poughkeepsie-based Marist College Institute for Pub...
Christine Quinn

Poll: Quinn's Primary Lead Shrinks After Hits From Both Sides

Besieged on both her left and her right, New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn's commanding lead in September's Democratic mayoral primary is showing signs of slippage, a new poll released on Wednesday suggests. The Quinnipiac University poll still shows Quinn leading her closest Democratic...

Poll: Even Democrats Say the NRA Is Beating the White House on the Gun Debate

Insiders from both parties see Obama struggling on the issue.
Mark Sanford

Why Stephen Colbert’s Sister Could Beat Mark Sanford

Scandal-plagued candidates have a lousy track record at winning elections.
Elizabeth Colbert Busch

Colbert Busch Leads Sanford, Bostic in Internal Poll

The "Colbert Bump" seems to be in effect in South Carolina's First District, where Stephen Colbert's sister, Elizabeth Colbert Busch, has a slight lead over both former Gov. Mark Sanford and former Charleston County Councilor Curtis Bostic, according to a poll conducted last week for her campaign....
Supreme Court DOMA

Why Waiting on the States Could Create a Messy Future for Same-Sex Marriage

In two big cases this week, the justices were hesitant to impose a national standard on gay marriage. But history shows that leaving the issue to the states could leave a long-lasting patchwork.
Ken Cuccinelli

Poll Shows Cuccinelli, McAuliffe Still Tied After Bolling's Exit

In the first public poll released since Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling announced he wouldn't mount an independent bid to be Virginia's next governor, Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli and former Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe remain locked in a tight, head-to-head race. Nearly all publi...
Robert Menendez

Poll: Menendez Rebounds Slightly as Prostitution Allegations Fizzle

New Jersey voters are divided on scandal-plagued Sen. Robert Menendez, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll that represents a slight recovery for the embattled Democrat, who is reportedly under investigation for improperly aiding a campaign donor. Forty percent of voters approve of the way...
Markey

Poll: Markey Leads Lynch, But Many Are Undecided

Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., and Republican former U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan currently lead their respective party primaries in the upcoming Massachusetts Senate special election, but significant numbers of voters in both parties remain undecided, according to a new poll conducted for Boston-ba...
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie

Poll: Christie Still Crushes Buono in N.J. Race

Seven-in-ten voters approve of the job New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is doing in a new poll released on Tuesday, and the Republican incumbent continues to lead Democratic state Sen. Barbara Buono by 35 points in his November reelection bid -- leading the director of the Quinnipiac poll to say Chris...
ARRA sign

The One Word You Can't Say in Washington

Democrats agree on the need for stimulus. Just don't call it that.
Martin O'Malley

Will Martin O’Malley Be the Howard Dean of 2016?

The Maryland governor's progressive legislative accomplishments would enable him to make a play from the left in 2016.
Mark Pryor

GOP Poll Shows Pryor's Favorability Plummeting

Club for Growth Action and the Senate Conservatives Fund released results of a new poll Tuesday that shows a significant drop over the past two months in how Arkansas voters view Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor, a top Republican target in 2014. Pryor's favorability in the state has plummeted 28 points i...
Hispanic voters

GOP Can't Win Latinos Over Immigration

Earlier this winter, Ann Coulter brought her usual light touch to the question of the Hispanic vote. The author of Godless: The Church of Liberalism argued in a column that Republicans who support immigration reform in an effort to court Latinos are wasting their time. “It’s not clear that amnesty wins any Hispanics,” Coulter wrote, “apart from the ones who can’t vote (because they’re illegal) and their ethnic ‘spokesmen,’ whose power increases as the Hispanic population grows.” Hispanics gravitate toward Democrats, she insisted, because they believe in more government, and no immigration courtship will seduce them.
Hispanic voters

Republicans Can't Win Latinos With Immigration Reform

From big government to gay rights, America's fastest-growing demographic bloc aligns with Democrats. 
Ken Cuccinelli

At CPAC, Ken Cuccinelli Moves to the Center

Virginia's Republican candidate for governor tacks to the middle in speech to conservative activists.
Patty Murray

Dueling Budget Plans Help Define Both Parties

By the middle of this week, Americans will once again be plunged into the wildly different world views of Republicans and Democrats as the two parties release competing budget proposals within hours of one another.
McConnell Boehner

How the House Holds the Senate GOP Hostage

Upper-chamber Republicans prefer a more circumspect approach, but they are increasingly defined by their hard-line House counterparts.
Mark Warner

Mark Warner's Evolution on Same-Sex Marriage

Of the 40 Senators who signed onto an amicus brief asking the Supreme Court to strike down part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, one name stands out among those up for reelection in 2014: Sen. Mark Warner. The Virginia Democrat released a follow-up statement in which he explained his reasoni...
John Boehner

How Both Sides Botched the Sequester Fight

The White House and congressional Republicans each notch tactical wins but fail on strategy.
Chuck Hagel

The Rehabilitation of Chuck Hagel

Looking beyond the sequester, the new Pentagon chief plans a fast trip, and a focus on veterans.

Poll Shows Quinn on Verge of Avoiding Runoff in N.Y. Mayor's Race

A new poll released Wednesday confirms that New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn is nearing the critical 40-percent mark in this September's Democratic mayoral primary, the threshold for avoiding a runoff with the second-place finisher. The Quinnipiac University poll shows Quinn with 37 pe...
LaHood sequester

Coming to A State Near You: Big Spending Cuts

The White House is trying to raise pressure on Congress to cancel automatic spending cuts by releasing the most detailed accounting to date of how the reductions would hit in the 50 states. The cuts, known as the sequester, are scheduled to take effect on Friday.
Obama on Sequester

What Unites Obama's Coalition — and What Could Divide It

One conclusion that jumps from the Pew Research Center/USA Today national survey released Thursday is that the coalition that reelected President Obama last fall remains in step behind him — and is largely unified behind the key elements of his increasingly aggressive second-term agenda. But the poll also suggests that failure to generate more-rapid economic recovery could nonetheless strain the powerful coalition Obama has assembled.
Rick Scott

The Credibility Gap: Shading the Truth Has Consequences

From the White House to statehouses, politicians aren't keeping their promises on pivotal issues.

Menendez's Poll Numbers Take a Tumble Amid Scandal

The scandal enveloping Sen. Robert Menendez has taken a significant toll on the New Jersey Democrat's approval ratings, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released early Thursday that shows the percentage of Garden State voters who approve of the way Menendez is handling his job as senato...
Ed Markey

Poll: Markey Starts With Small Massachusetts Primary Lead Over Lynch

Massachusetts Democrats tried to clear the field for Rep. Edward Markey in the special election to succeed Secretary of State John Kerry in the Senate, but a new poll released Friday shows Markey with only a slight lead over Rep. Stephen Lynch in the Democratic primary. The WBUR-FM poll, conducted...

Poll: Quinn Leading Primary, General for NYC Mayor

A new NY1-Marist poll released late Thursday shows City Council Speaker Christine Quinn with a nearly three-to-one lead in the Democratic primary to be New York City's next mayor, and a 46-point lead against the leading Republican candidate, former Metropolitan Transportation Authority chairman Joe...

Lautenberg Announces Retirement

Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., announced Thursday that he won't seek reelection in 2014, potentially paving the way for Newark Mayor Cory Booker to succeed him.
Barack Obama, John McCain

Who's Stronger on Syria, Obama or McCain?

Obama's caution was a selling point in 2008 against McCain. Syria is showcasing another clash of their temperaments.
Obama SOTU

Stung By Media's Focus on Liberal Agenda, Obama Pivots Back to Economy

Job One for President Obama in his State of the Union address will be to convince Americans that his top priority is their jobs.
Hispanics for Obama

Obama Reelection Push Ratcheted Its Wooing of Hispanics

Overwhelming Hispanic support for President Obama was hardly preordained in 2012. He had to work hard for their votes.

The Des Moines Register Steps All Over Braley's Announcement

The Des Moines Register didn't do Democratic Rep. Bruce Braley any favors on Friday. The day after Braley announced his intention to run for the Senate seat belonging to retiring Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, the front page of the Register is touting a poll showing that former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, a Democrat currently serving in the Obama administration as Agriculture secretary, is seen as the most appealing candidate in a new poll conducted for the newspaper.

New Poll Shows Hillary Clinton, Marco Rubio More Popular Than Obama

Hillary Rodham Clinton is the most popular American politician, while John Boehner is the least, according to a new Quinnipiac poll.

Poll: Christie Approval Remains High, But Not on the Economy

Just over two weeks after a Quinnipac University poll pegged New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's job approval rating at 74 percent, a new Rutgers-Eagleton poll reaffirmed that rating by giving the Republican a virtually identical approval mark of 73 percent. The leading Democratic challenger in the Nov...
dreamer

The Most Important Demographic Percentage to Know for 2050

A Pew report estimates that 93 percent of the growth of the working-age population by 2050 will be immigrants and their U.S.-born children.

Citing Gun Issue, Kelly Claims Slight Lead in Illinois Special Election

Former state Rep. Robin Kelly has inched in front of the pack of Democrats looking to succeed former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., in a special election primary later this month, according to an internal poll conducted for her campaign. The poll, conducted Monday and Tuesday by the Democratic fir...

Poll Shows Gentler Drop for Cuomo After Signing Gun Laws

Less than a week after a Quinnipiac University poll showed a significant drop in support for New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo after the Democrat's successful push to pass new laws restricting gun ownership, a new Siena College poll suggests that any changes in how Empire State voters feel about their gove...
Predator Drone

When Can the U.S. Kill Americans? The White House Won't Say.

The administration refuses to say why it thinks it can kill American terrorists abroad—even to the lawmakers entitled to know.
Barack Obama

Why Obama Is Giving Up on Right-Leaning Whites

For decades, Democrats shaped their policies around fears of losing right-leaning white voters to the GOP. But Obama’s winning coalition has altered that calculus.

Poll: Cuomo Approval Plummets After Gun-Law Push

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's approval rating slid under 60 percent in the wake of changes to the state's gun laws, a new poll released Wednesday shows, but Empire State voters still approve of the Democrat's job performance by a more-than-2-to-1 margin. A new Quinnipiac University poll shows Cuomo'...
Immigrants

Who Are the 11 Million Undocumented Immigrants?

With the announcement of bipartisan legislation that would allow a pathway to citizenship for undocumented residents, the number 11 million becomes important. That's the most commonly cited estimate of the number of illegal residents in the country. But where does this number come from?

Poll: Corbett Vulnerable in Reelection Campaign

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett enters his reelection campaign in a precarious position, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Tuesday. A majority of Pennsylvania voters don't think the Republican has earned another term, the poll shows. Fifty-one percent of respondents said Corbett does...
Immigrants

There Are 11 Million Undocumented Immigrants. So Who Are They?

The population is more than just a number. Here's what we know about them.

Bill Clinton To Campaign With Pryor

Bill Clinton is making an early campaign appearance for Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., one of the most vulnerable Democrats up for re-election in 2014. He will be attending a March 16 fundraiser, which will double as a campaign kickoff event, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports. The early start unders...
Obama Biden Basketball

Joe Biden: Obama's Mr. Fix-It

Vice President Joe Biden isn't getting much political credit for his legislative work on the president's behalf.

Poll: Lhota Starts NYC Mayor Bid as Heavy Underdog Against Quinn, Dems

Former MTA chairman Joe Lhota is generating a slew of headlines in the New York tabloids, but the Republican has a lot of ground to make up in a new poll of the New York City mayoral race. A Quinnipiac University survey released Wednesday shows Lhota trailing three potential Democratic opponents by...
John Boehner Sandy

Poll: Country Divided Over Debt Ceiling, Deficit Reduction

Surveys showed that Americans sided with President Obama and Democrats in last month’s debate over extending the Bush tax cuts for most taxpayers, but according to a new United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll, the country is more divided over how to reduce the deficit as the White House and Congress fight over the debt ceiling and sequestration.
gun store

4 Problems Obama Will Face In Gun Control Push

Washington is on edge over gun violence and possible new gun laws, which means there will be a lot of talk over the next few months about the business of selling and owning firearms, violent images in the media, the influence of the National Rifle Association, gun culture, hunting ducks--you name it.
Gun show

Poll Finds That Obama’s Base Overlaps With Gun-Control Coalition

As President Obama readies a new push for gun-control legislation, he will rely on the support of the same political coalition that thrust him into a second term last November: young people, minorities, and college-educated women.
Food Fight

Are Voters Really Bothered by GOP Turmoil?

Democrats say they can win back the House by depicting the GOP as too fractious to get anything done. We’ll see.

Poll: N.J. Dems Prefer Booker Over Lautenberg

More New Jersey Democrats would rather see Newark Mayor Cory Booker win the Garden State's Senate seat than the seat's current occupant, Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., according to a new poll released Thursday.
Andrew Cuomo

Gun Control: Cuomo's 2016 Presidential Play

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's newfound gun control activism is heightening speculation that he's already preparing for a presidential campaign in 2016.

McConnell Team Privately Rooting Judd On

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is actively preparing for a Kentucky Senate race against actress Ashley Judd, but he doesn't seem at all bothered by his own campaign's polling showing the race surprisingly competitive. That's because McConnell insiders privately are rooting Judd on, convince...

Poll: Brown Would Enter Special Election as Favorite

GOP Sen. Scott Brown is well-positioned heading into a potential Massachusetts special election next year, according to a new WBUR-FM poll, with high favorability ratings and advantages in hypothetical matchups with every Democrat tested in the survey. The poll, conducted by MassINC Polling Group,...
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