Rep. Mickey Sherrill (D-N.J.) holds an 8-point lead over former GOP Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli in the New Jersey gubernatorial race ahead of next Tuesday’s race, according to a new poll.
Quinnipiac University Surveyreleased on thursdaySherrill was found to be ahead of Ciattarelli among likely voters, 51 percent to 43 percent. Three percent said they were undecided, while both longtime candidates – Socialist Worker Party candidate Joan Kunianski and Libertarian Party candidate Vic Kaplan – each received 1 percent.
The poll represents a slight change from a previous Quinnipiac University poll released earlier this month, which showed Ciattarelli at 44 percent and Sherrill at 50 percent.
The referendum offers several other bright points for Sherrill. For one, Sherrill enjoys a high favorability rating of 47 percent, while Ciattarelli has a rating of 43 percent. Ciattarelli also has a more unfavorable rating, 47 percent, compared to Sherrill’s 38 percent. More people, 13 percent, have not heard of Sherrill, compared with 9 percent who have.
The latest poll from Quinnipiac University found that term-limited New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (D) received a higher approval rating – 45 percent – compared to President Trump’s 40 percent. Still, both men’s approval ratings in the state are underwater.
Trump’s approval rating is higher – 56 percent – compared to Murphy, who has a disapproval rating of 47 percent.
Respondents cited taxes as the most important issue in selecting a governor at 25 percent. This was followed by ethics in government at 16 percent and health care at 14 percent.
Sherrill and Ciattarelli are competing for Murphy’s seat to lead the Garden State on Tuesday. The race has become increasingly competitive in the final stages as more voters join the race and both campaigns bring in last-minute surrogates to rally their bases.
The poll shows Sherrill with a more comfortable lead over her GOP opponent than recent public polls, which showed her with a lead of less than 8 percent. An Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill Surveyreleased on thursdaySherrill barely edged Ciattarelli, 49 percent to 48 percent, which was within the poll’s margin of error.
a decision desk headquarters votingaverage of surveysSherrill is at 50 percent in the race while Ciattarelli is at 45 percent.
The Quinnipiac University poll was conducted between October 23 and October 28, surveying 1,166 likely New Jersey voters. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.
