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Poll also finds strong support for Christie's decision to deny MTV a $420,000 tax credit

“Jersey Shore” is bad for the entire Garden State, New Jersey voters say 67 to 16 percent, including 67 to 26 percent of those under 35 years old, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday.

Voters also say 71 to 20 percent that Gov. Chris Christie did “the right thing” when he vetoed a $420,000 state tax credit for MTV, the show’s producer, last month. Again, there is little difference among age groups as voters under 35 support the governor 71 to 25 percent. All other groups agree with the funding block.

Voters also agree 78 to 17 percent with Christie’s reasoning that taxpayers should not pay $420,000 for a show that “perpetuates misconceptions about the state and its citizens.”

By a 69 to 9 percent margin, voters have an unfavorable opinion of “Jersey Shore,” with 20 percent who haven’t heard enough about it to make a decision. The breakdown by age group is:

• 18 to 34 years: 67 to 20 percent unfavorable with 12 percent who haven’t heard enough;
• 35 to 54 years: 79 to 8 percent unfavorable with 11 percent who haven’t heard enough;
• 54 to 61 – 6 percent unfavorable, with 30 percent who haven’t heard enough.

“Garden State voters agree overwhelmingly with Gov. Christopher Christie’s decision to slam the door on Snooki, The Situation and the rest of the ‘Jersey Shore’ crew,” Maurice Carroll, the poll’s director, said. “The show gets heavy negative ratings from New Jerseyans, including the seashore neighbors. They think the Seaside-based show is bad for the state. Although there have been legal arguments against his decision, voters agree that Gov. Christie was ‘duty bound’ to do what he did.”

After spending several years filming in Seaside, the latest season of “Jersey Shore” filmed in Italy.

Pollsters surveyed 1,186 voters from Oct. 5 through Monday. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percent.

– TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM