Posted on 01/16/2006 1:57:09 PM PST by LdSentinal
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - Republican State Sen. Tom Kean Jr. has an 11-point lead over Democratic Rep. Robert Menendez in this year's battle for the U.S. Senate seat, according to a poll released Monday.
Asked whom they would vote for if the election were held today, Kean received 36 percent to Menendez's 25 percent, while a whopping 37 percent said they did not know who they would support, said Peter Woolley, director of Fairleigh Dickinson University's PublicMind Poll.
"Not only is it early in the election cycle, but neither of these candidates has ever mounted a statewide race," Woolley said. "Both will have to introduce themselves to voters around the state."
Kean's advantage is his name recognition among Republicans - his father is the popular former governor Thomas Kean. A majority of Republicans - 57 percent - said they would vote for Kean, who has no primary opponent.
"By contrast, Bob Menendez will be holding (Jon) Corzine's seat and trying to build a brand name among Democrats around the state," Woolley said.
Menendez received the support of 37 percent of Democrats polled. So far, Menendez is unchallenged for the June primary race.
Both men's name recognition numbers also have increased, with 60 percent saying they knew who Menendez was, and 62 percent saying they knew of Kean.
Menendez will have one advantage over Kean - he will serve out the remaining year on Corzine's term. Corzine will be sworn in as governor on Tuesday, and Menendez is scheduled to be sworn in as senator on Wednesday.
The poll of 707 registered voters was conducted by telephone from Jan. 3 to Jan 10 and has a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points.
This is great!
Republicans in NJ maybe able to pull this one out but it would be by less than 500 votes.
It would give the GOP another seat with an "R" next to it, and remove a corrupt Torricelli protege.
That's about it, but it's something.
Now now, lets not get too excited. Afterall, the MSM has already declared congress for the dems in 2006, its time to move on to the 2008 election.
Ted Kennedy is ripe for defeat if Massachussetts' Republicans can find a name candidate!!
I think Romney would be a good candidate.
I think we can win this one, and Maryland, and possibly FL or NE. We might lose Santorum's seat, for a net gain of at least one and probably (now) two.
I'll rate Romney @ 3-1 odds for becoming president # 44.
Kennedy looks like he is going to win that one, possibly even easy.
Ripe, yes.
Massachussettes voters are for the most part brain-dead, and Kennedy is proof.
There are no Mass. Republicans with a name. 'Hate to sound cynical, but the words political wasteland come to mind.
You won't catch me voting for Scumbag Kean.
ML/NJ
Never. Have you ever seen how many cemeteries there are in Bergen County alone? It would be impossible for Republicans to overcome the dead vote.
Well, then you can vote for the reprehensible Menendez & you'll cancel out my vote...
(Hint: The answer is no.)
But if I won't vote for Kean, then Kean has about as much chance of becoming Governor here as I have of being elected the next Pope. (And I'm Jewish!)
I am going to hold my nose and vote for Kean. That makes us a vote up on menendez.
True.
Generally, Republicans do well against minority candidates.
Thus, my conclusion....
The reason I think Romney would be good is because he almost took him down in 94. He has proven he can get elected in a liberal state without being a liberal. He could at least give Kennedy a good fight. I'd like to see Kennedy and Byrd both be sent packing. They have more than overstayed their welcome in the Senate.
I agree with you...which is why I'm voting for him for...senator ;-)
Maybe some "ahem" carpet-bagging Republican will find it advantageous to take up residence in that state......to run against the beached whale.
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