Barack Obama is ahead of John McCain 48% to 40% in New Jersey, up slightly from last month but identical to his lead in June, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of voters in the state. When “leaners” are included, Obama’s lead expands to 10 percentage points, 52% to 42%.
At the same time, New Jersey’s Democratic Senator Frank Lautenberg is opening a commanding lead in his bid for re-election.
Nationally, the race between Obama and McCain remains very close in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll.
Both presidential candidates are viewed favorably by Garden State voters—59% have a favorable opinion of Obama while 57% say the same about McCain.
Forty-eight percent (48%) of New Jersey voters say that the economy is the top voting issue of Election 2008. This comes at a time when 22% are worried about losing their job, a figure close to the national average. Fifty percent (50%) say the high cost of gas and travel has caused them to postpone or cancel vacation plans.
Forty-seven percent (47%) trust Obama more than McCain on economic issues while 40% have more trust in McCain. Nationally, voters are evenly divided on the same question.
Twenty-one percent (21%) say national security is the highest priority.
Rasmussen Markets data gives Obama an % chance of winning New Jersey’s 15 electoral votes this November. George H.W. Bush in 1988 was the last Republican presidential candidate to carry New Jersey where no Republican has won a statewide office since 1997. John Kerry carried New Jersey over President Bush -- 53% to 46% -- in 2004.
The survey was conducted in partnership with Fox Television Stations, Inc.
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This telephone survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on August 4, 2008. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.
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New Jersey Trends: McCain vs. Obama |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Date |
McCain |
Obama |
|
11/02/08 |
42% |
57% |
|
42% |
50% |
|
|
42% |
55% |
|
|
40% |
48% |
|
|
39% |
44% |
|
|
39% |
48% |
|
|
46% |
45% |
|
|
45% |
43% |
|
|
Favorable Ratings for Presidential Candidates in New Jersey |
||
|---|---|---|
|
McCain |
Obama |
|
|
Very Favorable |
27% |
45% |
|
Somewhat Favorable |
26% |
18% |
|
Somewhat Unfavorable |
20% |
11% |
|
Very Unfavorable |
24% |
25% |
|
Not Sure |
3% |
1% |
|
Rasmussen Reports - Electoral College Balance of Power Summary |
|
|---|---|
|
160 |
|
|
260 |
|
|
118 |
|
Rasmussen Reports is an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information.
The Rasmussen Reports ElectionEdge™ Premium Service for Election 2008 offers the most comprehensive public opinion coverage ever provided for a Presidential election.
Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports, has been an independent pollster for more than a decade.
