Background Memo  

The most recent survey by Fairleigh Dickinson University’s PublicMind was conducted by telephone from Oct. 23 through Oct. 29, 2008 using a randomly selected sample of 852 likely voters statewide.  The sampling error for 852 randomly selected respondents is +/- 3.5 percentage points at the 95 percent level of confidence.  Sample error for subgroups varies with the size of the subgroup. 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. All PublicMind interviews are conducted by professionally trained interviewers using a CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing) system. Random selection is achieved through 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.

The questions included in this release are as follows:

Question: And in the upcoming elections for President of the United States, which candidate are you most likely to vote for…or….?

• Obama
• McCain

Question: No matter who wins the election, how much will the outcome affect New Jersey…?

• A lot
• Some
• Just a little
• No effect at all

Question: No matter who wins the election, how much will the outcome affect your life personally…?

• A lot
• Some
• Just a little
• No effect at all

Question: Six months from now do you expect the economy will be better, worse, or about the same?

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 George W. Bush is handling his job as President?

Question: [Ask Democrats and lean Democrat only] Who did you vote for way back in February in the presidential primary election…?

• Clinton
• Obama
• Someone else
• Didn't vote

Question: [If employed, ask…] How worried are you that you might lose your job in the next 12 months…?

see also:
Survey Analysis
Tabular Results