Garden State Equality

If Barack Obama wins the presidency and offers Gov. Jon Corzine a post in his new administration, New Jerseyans want Corzine to take the job, according to a Zogby International poll released earlier today. 

Among likely voters, 46% want Corzine to resign as Governor and join an Obama administration, while 33% say he should decline and stay on as Governor.  Among Democrats, 45% say he should leave, and 36% want him to stay.

New Jersey’s most popular politician is Senate President Richard Codey, according to a new Zogby International poll released today.  Codey, who served as Governor from November 2004 to January 2006, has a 66%-17% favorable rating among New Jersey likely voters. 

A second independent poll in seven days on the 2009 race for Governor shows a potentially close contest between Gov. Jon Corzine and Republican Christopher Christie, the United States Attorney.  A Zogby International poll conducted for Garden State Equality gives Corzine a 45%-36% lead over Christie; a Quinnipiac University poll released last Tuesday has Christie leading 41%-40% -- a statistical dead heat.

Democrat Frank Lautenberg has a 50%-32% lead over Republican Dick Zimmer in the race for U.S. Senate, according to a Zogby International poll released today.  A Quinnipiac University released on August 12 has Lautenberg leading 48%-41%. 

The poll was conducted for Garden State Equality, a civil rights organization that advocates marriage equality and other gay rights issues.

Most New Jerseyans support same sex marriage and an even greater percentage have no problem if the state joins Massachusetts and California in passing a same sex marriage law, according to a Zogby International poll conducted by Garden State Equality, a civil rights organization that advocates marriage equality and other gay rights issues. 

By a 50%-42% margin, likely New Jersey voters support allowing same sex couples to marry.  59% say they would be fine with a same sex marriage law, and 57% say New Jersey should recognize same sex marriages that took place outside New Jersey. 

Frank Lautenberg today won the endorsement of the Human Rights Campaign.

The group, which describes itself as “the nation's largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) civil rights organization” is the second major gay rights group to endorse Lautenberg over his rival, Rep. Rob Andrews.  He received the endorsement of Garden State Equality last week.