Background Memo  

The most recent survey by Fairleigh Dickinson University’s PublicMind was conducted by telephone from May 26, 2009 through May 30, 2009 using a randomly selected sample of 561 likely Republican primary voters statewide, drawn from registered voter lists, who have voted in at least one primary in the past four years and report they are likely to vote in this primary election.  The margin of error for 561 randomly selected respondents is +/- 4 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: If the Republican primary election for governor were held today, would you vote for…or…or…?

• Chris Christie
• Steve Lonegan
• Rick Merkt

Open-end Question: Now, thinking about the national Republican Party…Who do you consider to be the leader of the national Republican Party at this time?

• John Boehner
• George Bush
• Dick Cheney
• Chris Christie
• Newt Gingrich
• Sean Hannity
• Mike Huckabee
• Rush Limbaugh
• Steve Lonegan
• John McCain
• Mitch McConnell
• Sarah Palin
• Mitt Romney
• Michael Steele
• Other*

*Including:  Scott Garrett, Rudy Giuliani, Bobby Jindal, Alan Keyes, Jon Kyl, Joe Lieberman, Ron Paul, Colin Powell, Tom Ridge, Mark Sanford.

Question: Now… of the following list that I’ll read to you… who do you consider to be the leader of the national Republican Party at this time?

• John Boehner
• Dick Cheney
• Rush Limbaugh
• John McCain
• Mitch McConnell
• Michael Steele

Question: Do you approve or disapprove of the….?

• …the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? 
• …the way congress its handling its job?
• …the job Jon Corzine is doing as governor
• …the way George Bush handled his job as President?
• …the way Dick Cheney handled his job as Vice President?
• …the way Michael Steele is handling his job as chair of the national Republican Party?
• …the way John Boehner his handling his job as Republican leader in the House of Representatives?

Question: On the issue of abortion, do you consider yourself…or …?

• Pro life
• Pro choice

Question: On issue of guns, do you consider yourself … or…?

• Pro gun ownership
• Pro gun control

Question: Do you favor or oppose stem cell research?

Question: Do you favor or oppose legalizing gay marriage?

Question: Do you favor or oppose school vouchers?

Question: Did the United States do the right thing invading Iraq or was it a mistake?

Question: Do you favor or oppose closing down the prison facilities at Guantanamo Bay?

Question: In addition to being American, would you say you’re…?

• White
• African-American
• Asian-American
• Hispanic or Latin American

see also:
Survey Analysis
Tabular Results
Pie Charts