Background Memo  

The most recent survey by Fairleigh Dickinson University’s PublicMind was conducted by telephone from June 22, 2009 through June 29, 2009 using a randomly selected sample of 803 registered voters statewide. The margin of error for 803 randomly selected respondents is +/- 3.5 percentage points. Survey results are also subject to non-sampling error. This kind of error, which cannot be measured, arises from a number of factors including, but not limited to, non-response (eligible individuals refusing to be interviewed), question wording, the order in which questions are asked, and variations among interviewers. PublicMind interviews are conducted by professionally trained interviewers use a CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing) system. Random selection >is achieved by computerized random-digit dialing. This technique gives every person with a land-line phone number (including those with unlisted numbers) an equal chance of being selected. Results are mathematically weighted to match known demographics.

Question: In your opinion, do you believe that the country is moving in the right direction or do you believe it has gotten off on the wrong track?

Question: In general, do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President?

Question: Now looking ahead—do you think that a year from now you (and your family living there) will be better off financially or worse off?

Question: Have you heard of [rotate list]? If you haven’t just tell me. [If yes, ask:] Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of …? Would that be very or somewhat?

• Jon Corzine
• Chris Daggett
• Chris Christie

Question:  Next November there will be an election for governor. I know it’s early but who would you vote for in a race between… and…?

• Jon Corzine, the Democrat
• Chris Christie, the Republican

Question:  Which candidate for New Jersey governor… or … is better described by…?

• Honest, trustworthy
• Understands the concerns of the average person
• Has the background and experience to be a good governor

Question: Now, regardless of which candidate you want to win, if you had to guess, who would you say is going to win the election for governor in November… or …?

• Jon Corzine
• Chris Christie

Question: How would you rate the job Jon Corzine is doing as governor…

• Excellent
• Good
• Only fair
• Poor

Question: Do you approve or disapprove of the job Jon Corzine is doing as governor?

Question: Now I’d like to ask you a few questions about the New Jersey State budget. How much have you heard or read about the Governor’s proposed state budget for the coming year…?

• Nothing at all
• Only a little
• Some
• A great deal

Question: In order either to raise money or to cut spending in next year’s budget a number of actions were considered. For each of these actions, tell me whether you think it’s a good idea or a bad idea?

• Reduce state aid to cities and towns.
• Require state employees to take 9 unpaid days off
• Eliminate 7000 state jobs. (note 2)
• Only give property tax rebates to seniors and people making less than 75 thousand dollars a year.
• Increase taxes on wine and liquor
• Eliminate the property tax deduction on state income tax forms for households making $250,000.

see also:
Survey Analysis
Tabular Results