Here’s the latest news out of New Jersey courtesy of Quinnipiac University’s latest poll:
Despite a big negative favorability rating, U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, the Democratic incumbent, leads former pharmaceutical executive Bob Hugin, the Republican challenger, 51 - 44 percent among New Jersey likely voters, according to a Quinnipiac University Poll released today.
Only 5 percent of likely voters remain undecided, but 10 percent of voters who do name a candidate say they could change their mind by Election Day.
Today's results compare to a 53 - 42 percent lead by Sen. Menendez in an October 3 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University Poll.
Women and non-white voters remain the key to Menendez' support:
- Women back the Democrat 56 - 38 percent. Men are divided with 51 percent for Hugin and 46 percent for Menendez;
- The incumbent leads 63 - 28 percent among non-white voters. White voters go 52 percent for Hugin and 46 percent for Menendez;
- Republicans back Hugin 96 - 2 percent, as Democrats go to Menendez 92 - 6 percent. Independent voters tip to Hugin 51 - 44 percent.
New Jersey likely voters give Menendez a big negative 36 - 52 percent favorability rating. Hugin gets a positive 39 - 30 percent favorability rating, with 28 percent who haven't heard enough about him to form an opinion.
"Support from women remains key to Sen. Robert Menendez' standing in this race as his favorability rating is stuck deep underwater," said Mary Snow, polling analyst for the Quinnipiac University Poll.
"The question for Bob Hugin is: can he win over those voters who say they are undecided or are backing Menendez and indicate they may change their mind? It will come down to how he defines himself in these last few weeks before Election Day as nearly 30 percent of voters say they haven't heard enough about him to form an opinion of him."
From October 10 - 16, Quinnipiac University surveyed 873 New Jersey likely voters with a margin of error of +/- 4.3 percentage points, including the design effect.
Let’s keep up the momentum and not only win this race but also help Democrats make more gains in the Garden State. Click below to donate and get involved with Menendez and his fellow New Jersey Democrats campaigns:
Bob Menendez
Andy Kim
Jeff Van Drew
Josh Welle
Josh Gottheimer
Tom Malinowski
Mikie Sherrill