newjerseynewsroom.com

Voters considering last minute decisions

BY TOM HESTER SR.

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

On the eve of New Jersey's gubernatorial election, a poll made public Monday finds Republican challenger Chris Christie leading Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine 42 to 40 percent among likely voters with 12 percent backing Independent Chris Daggett and 6 percent undecided.

The Quinnipiac University poll findings compare to a 43 to 38 percent lead Corzine held Wednesday when the school released its last poll. Daggett had 13 percent.

"Daggett is the key to an incredibly close New Jersey election," said Maurice Carroll, the poll's director.

A Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind poll that was also made public Monday gives Corzine a 44 to 43 percent lead over Christie. Two polls released last week had Corzine leading Christie by 9 and 5 percentage points.

Among Daggett supporters, 38 percent say they might change their mind: 39 percent say Corzine is their second choice, while 29 percent say Christie is their number two pick.

Only 10 percent of Christie voters and 13 percent of Corzine backers say they might change their mind.

Corzine leads 77 to 6 percent among Democratic likely voters, with 12 percent for Daggett. Christie leads 78 to 10 percent among Republicans, with 9 percent for Daggett, and 47 to 32 percent among independent voters, with 17 percent for Daggett.

From Tuesday through Sunday Quinnipiac surveyed 1,533 New Jersey likely voters, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.