Poll numbers may be bad news for N.J. gov

TEANECK, N.J., Jan. 9 (UPI) -- New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine's re-election bid could be in trouble if his eventual Republican rival overcomes a lack of name recognition, a poll indicates.

The PublicMind Poll, conducted by Fairleigh Dickinson University, found that only 25 percent of New Jerseyans think the state is headed in the right direction and 65 percent say it is going downhill. These numbers have changed little over the past year.

"This persistent number should be worrisome to the incumbent party," said Peter Woolley, a political scientist and director of the poll.

The poll found that 42 percent approve of the job Corzine is doing and 44 percent disapprove.

While Corzine leads all three declared Republican candidates, he has only a 40-33 advantage over the early front-runner, former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie.

Christie was the choice of 32 percent of Republicans, while 15 percent selected former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan and 5 percent preferred Assemblyman Rick Merkt. Almost half of Republicans, 47 percent, did not have a preference.

The poll surveyed 831 registered voters between Jan. 2-7. The margin of error is 3.5 percentage points.