New Jersey Senate Race Is Neck And Neck

(CBS)  The New Jersey Senate race between Democratic incumbent Robert Menendez and Republican challenger Thomas Kean Jr., which could decide which party controls the Senate, is neck and neck as it heads for the homestretch, a CBS News/New York Times poll finds.

Despite New Jersey voters' negative opinions about President Bush and the war in Iraq, the race remains a virtual dead heat — 40 percent for Menendez, 39 percent for Kean, with 16 percent undecided — because of negative assessments of Menendez and concerns about corruption and taxes.

The margin of error for the poll is plus or minus three percentage points.

Corruption charges made against Menendez appear to be sticking. Asked to name the first thing that comes to mind when they hear Menendez's name, the top answer, mentioned by 21 percent of likely voters, was "corruption" or "crooked." The first thing that comes to mind when Kean's name is mentioned is his famous father, former Gov. Thomas Kean, named by 34 percent.

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Read more about the tight race.
Read the entire poll.

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Menendez's party affiliation is the source of most of his support. Fifty-five percent of likely voters say they're backing him because he's a Democrat, while 39 percent say it's his stand on the issues; just 2 percent cite his personal qualities. Among Kean supporters, 48 percent say it's his stand on the issues, 31 percent his party affiliation and 14 percent his personal qualities.

Voters don't feel particularly strongly about either candidate. More than 40 percent of both men's backers say their support comes "with reservations."

Which party will control the Senate is an important factor in this race. Thirty-four percent of voters say their vote is specifically to help put Democrats in charge of the Senate, while 17 percent see it as a vote to keep the GOP in control.

Among those who say their vote is not about Senate control, Kean leads Menendez by 45 percent to 23 percent.

While President Bush is viewed negatively by New Jersey voters — just 33 percent approve of the job he's doing, which is in line with his national rating — a majority of New Jersey voters say their vote will not be about the president.

But among those who say the president is a factor, more then twice as many say their Senate vote will be a vote against the president as say it will be a vote for him.

New Jersey voters are split on whether national or local issues will have the greater impact on their vote. Among those who cite the war in Iraq as the most influential national issue, Menendez has a big edge. But many New Jersey residents say taxes will be the most important statewide issue in their vote, and Kean is the choice among those voters.

For detailed information on how CBS News conducts public opinion surveys, click here.

[sanfelz]

Menendez was in the House for 14 years and no one charged him with any crimes or ethics violations until he runs against Kean Jr. Even Kean Sr will not agree with his son that there is any proof that Menendez is guilty of anything except having the courage to vote against Bush and the war in Iraq. And that was at at time when the president's popularity rating was over 90%.

[bluestardad]

Guys you can feel it in the air there is an awakening of the American Electorate and we are the sleeping giant our oppressors have feared all this time. We need to make sure that we take someone to the poles on Election Day. Americans will vote against this administration in so great of numbers that Carl Rove%u2019s election stealing programmers cannot up date the election theft code fast enough to stop the landslide victory.

[sim828524s]

For New Jersey, the Democrats are going to win this one. There is way too many voters like me
(independent) who are voting for Democrat.

The Republicans had their shot, we want to see what the Democrats can do with it now.

[msmartin_99]

I'm very displeased with the way that Kean Jr. has run his campaign, refusing to answer questions on global warming and Iraq (a war which he supports and states he would vote for), running way from the press when any difficult situation comes up, backing out of debates instead of discussing important issues, working with a convicted felon and swift-boat hire to discredit Menendez, and coming to conclusions about the failure of Republican leadership only in these past few weeks before the election.

Menendez is the leader we need in Washington instead of Kean Jr., who is only close in this race because he is riding on his father's name.

[tibu987]

Democrat or Republican, if they are corrupt, vote them out of office. Be an independent voter and vote for the right people, not the party.
Vote all the creeps out of office regardless of party.
Fresh hope, fresh ideas.
Vote the incumbents out, Dems or Repubs.
Vote for term limits when possible.
New Jersy voters, you know what to do. Do it.
Your vote is all you have. Turn the crooks out.

[bluestardad]

CALL TO AMERICAN VOTER
STAY FOCUSED AMERICA IT IS ABOUT TO GET TOUGH. WE HAVE A FEW MORE DAYS OF INTENSE ATTACK ADS, SMOKE SCREENS, DIVISION OF ELECTORATE, DECEPTION, MISREPRESENTATION, AND LIES, TO ENDURE BEFORE WE CAN UNCOVER THE ELECTION FRAUD, RECOUNT THE VOTE, AND THROW THESE CRIMINALS OUT OF OFFICE. THEN WE CAN START HEALING AMERICA.

[cathaleen]

Perception

You're correct New Jersey is the most corrupt state in the nation. That's why it's bankrupt.

[janeymcgreev]

We've got change - and its much better for America than 8 years of the Bin Laden ignoring, Belgrade bombing pervert and his cuckolded shrill shrew...eat your heart out, or should you drive a stake through it???

[perception5]

NJ is probably the most corrupt state in the country. Between the dirty DEMs, mob run unions, and their liberal MSM pals. They have managed to exclude the GOP in that state.
When is the last time the people of NJ were able to elect their leaders without DEMs appointing each other at every level of government and thus by-passing the voters??????
If voters in NJ are tried of these dirty ploys they should send a message on November 7th........

[janeymcgreev]

peterbaldwin,

when are you and your wife-beating relative going to skeedaddle to France? After all, isn't that what Alec promised us if President Bush was re-elected?

Nah, he likes the money, doesn't he. And to give good ol' Kimberly a nightmare or two by staying behind.

Go, I'm sure the Frenchies - with their rioting Islamic Hitlerite problem - will welcome you and the wifey beater with open arms.