Newark Mayor Cory Booker’s lead over Republican challenger Steve Lonegan has declined in the New Jersey special election for U.S. Senate, but still up double digits, according to a new poll.
A Monmouth University poll finds Booker up 13 points, 53-40 percent, over his opponent two weeks before the Oct. 16th election. That's down three points from Booker’s edge in the August poll, which showed him ahead 54 percent to 38 percent.
A Quinnipiac University survey released Sept. 24th also showed the race tightening a bit with Booker leading by 12 points, 53 percent to 41 percent.
“Monmouth University’s polls have consistently shown this race to be closer than most pundits thought it would be,” Monmouth polling director Patrick Murray said in a press release. "While Cory Booker’s lead is relatively sizable, many voters have doubts about his motives in seeking this seat.”
The poll also finds that a whopping 45 percent say that they believe Booker’s primary purpose in running is to raise his national profile. Meanwhile, 35 percent say he is predominately interested in serving New Jersey.
“It’s possible that Steve Lonegan’s attacks have caused many voters to reconsider their opinion of Booker, even if they don’t change their vote,” Murray said.
Monmouth’s poll surveyed 571 likely voters by phone between Sept. 26 and Sept. 29. It has a margin of error of 4.1 percentage points.