Conservative group's poll shows Zimmer and Lautenberg in dead heat
By Matt Friedman, PolitickerNJ.com ReporterThe conservative anti-tax group Club for Growth released its own New Jersey Senate poll this morning that shows Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dick Zimmer in a statistical dead heat with incumbent Senator Frank Lautenberg.
According to the group’s survey of 300 likely voters, Zimmer has a one point lead over Lautenberg – 36% to 35%.
The group found that 72% of survey respondents had heard of Dick Zimmer, but only about 40% know enough about him to rate him.
The group also found that 43% of respondents had a favorable impression of Gov. Corzine, while 44% had an unfavorable impression of him.
“Part of Lautenberg's problems may well be the effectiveness of Barrack Obama's change message. It is difficult to see how an 84 year-old with a long political resume can be a part of the change agenda - especially when we see the intense belief, as mentioned earlier, that the Democrats have broken their promise,” wrote pollster Pat McFerron.
The Club for Growth has ruffled feathers in the Republican Party for its past support of more conservative primary challengers over GOP incumbents.
Recent surveys by non-partisan polling organizations do not show as close a race, however. A poll released two days ago by Quinnipiac University showed Lautenberg ahead of Zimmer by seven points, while a Rasmussen Reports poll from last week showed Lautenberg leading by 18 points.
Lautenberg spokeswoman Julie Roginsky doubted that a partisan organization would produce fair poll results.
"We don't respond to blatantly partisan polls conducted by extreme right wing organizations which have a vested interest in the outcome of an election,” she said.
The Club for Growth poll was conducted between July 30 and 31st and has a margin of error of +/- 5.6%.
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Fundraising tool
You wonder with other surveys giving Lautenberg a commanding lead that the Zimmer camp needed one of their own surveys from a right wing group to use as a fundraising tool to boost their lack luster efforts.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
The Club for Growth? Jeez.
Partisan polls
I have said this before and will say it again, partisan polls - like this one - are not worth the paper they are printed on. The polls are skewed to obtain desired information. It is easy to manipulate a poll by asking questions in a certain way. So I tend to ignore these polls whether they come from a Democrat or Republican organziation.
its kinda sad
This is really kinda sad.
Lautenberg is vulnerable.
The man has been in the US Senate since 1983 for the exception of two years and is barely at 50%!
Zimmer is a bad candidate with no real message.
People are willing to vote for a change. Zimmer comes across as more of the same.
Vote Column A - All the way!
More Shocking than partisan polling..
The CFG likes Zimmer?!!!!
More Shocking than partisan polling..
The CFG likes Zimmer?!!!!
Frank
inst going anywhere he will win comfortably
Agreed Backwards
These are no usual Zimmer friends, This is a group thatd probably split between Murray and Pennacchio. Plus all other indications in this poll are normal (registration, Corzine etc). Therefore, I think its obvious Frank is losing ground and is really stumbling on the change message. I bet the Dems are kicking themselves for not nominating Andrews now. Zimmers lead among undeclareds is Frank's political retirement tune.
I predict on Election Day that Dick Zimmer will defeat Frank Lautenberg by a margin of 1,449,000 to 1,432,000. I also think national money is going to start flowing in once the NRSC and others realize the importance of a win here.
Sewaren
You simply cant be serious