TRENTON, N.J. — Bob Menendez’s lead over Republican U.S. Senate nominee and former pharmaceutical executive Bob Hugin is down to 6-points, Save Jerseyans (43% to 37%) according to the results of a bran new Quinnipiac University Poll released on Wednesday.
Back in March, Menendez’s lead was 49% to 32%, representing an 11-point swing in the Republican candidate’s favor over the past five (5) months.
It’s the third public poll in a row to report a single-digit race.
Photo Credit: Fox News
“As Sen. Robert Menendez sees his once dominant lead whittled down to single digits, New Jersey voters are sending a clear message. They are troubled by the ethics cloud hanging over him,” opined Mary Snow, polling analyst for the Quinnipiac Poll. “While voters prefer Sen. Menendez over Republican Bob Hugin in deep blue New Jersey, they give the incumbent negative approval and favorability ratings.”
There is a wide racial gap as Hugin leads 47 – 38 percent among white voters and Menendez leads 51 – 18 percent among non-white voters. Republicans back Hugin 85 – 6 percent while Democrats go to Menendez 74 – 10 percent. Independent voters are divided with 37 percent for Hugin and 33 percent for Menendez.
Soft support among Democrats is playing a role in Menendez’s soft performance in reliably blue New Jersey. 74% of Democrats still support Menendez, but 38% of Democrats believe he was involved in “serious wrongdoing.” Menendez’s unknown, unfunded primary opponent garnered nearly 4-in-10 Democrats in the June primary.
What’s holding Hugin back?
- 54% of voters say they still haven’t heard enough about Hugin to form an opinion in the election.
- Men are tied at 42% a piece
- The Republican garners only 18% support among non-whites
- There is an 11-point gender gap in Menendez’s favor
- Hugin is narrowly losing whites with a college degree despite leading among white voters overall
Unusually for an NJGOP statewide candidate, the self-made millionaire Hugin has bombarded the airwaves with ads in recent weeks, preempting Bob Menendez’s entry into the air war by months.
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