Corzine Now in Dead Heat With Christie in N.J.

New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine is now in a statistical tie with Republican challenger Chris Christie, leading him 44 percent to 43 percent with 4 supporting independent Chris Daggett and 5 percent undecided, according to a Fairleigh Dickinson University poll conducted Sept. 28-Oct. 5. The margin of error is 4 points.

In polling for that set of figures, Daggett's name was not read to respondents, but the 4 percent volunteered they would vote for him. When Daggett's name was read, Corzine drew 38 percent to Christie's 37 percent and Daggett's 17 percent with 6 percent undecided.

This is one of the first polls in which Corzine has moved above the 38-to-42 percent range, at least by the measure that didn't explicitly include Daggett. Behind the modest improvement are figures showing that Corzine has pulled almost even with Christie on the question of which candidate understands the concerns of the average person (Corzine has 34 percent to Christie's 36 percent), and that he leads Christie, 31 percent to 28 percent, on who is regarded as more honest and trustworthy. Christie once led by 33 percent to 24 percent.

"With the start of an advertising blitz and the raw exposure of the debate, the race has tightened to a dead heat," said poll director Peter Woolley.

Daggett has pushed his name recognition up to 50 percent among voters (it had been 33 percent a month ago), but 27 percent who have heard of him also say they have no opinion of him. Woolley reads that as a sign that Daggett's support is more a measure of voter discontent than enthusiasm about the independent.

To test that theory, the poll substituted the name of another independent, Michael Steele, for Daggett and Steele got 12 percent. Eighty-five percent of voters say they have not heard of Steele.

Corzine is seen unfavorably by 54 percent of voters and favorably by 37 percent with 9 percent having no opinion, about the same as in the last poll. Forty-two percent see Christie unfavorably compared to 35 percent with a positive view and 20 percent with no opinion. In the last poll, Christie had been seen favorably by 38 percent and unfavorably by 35 percent with 25 percent having no opinion.

Reflecting dissatisfaction with Corzine among fellow Democrats, the incumbent governor draws less support from his own party (76 percent) than Christie does among Republicans (81 percent).