Poll Shows Some Democrats Not Backing Corzine

New York, NY —

Traditionally Labor Day signals the start of local campaigns but in New Jersey the race for governor is well underway. WNYC's Bob Hennelly reports.

A new poll shows that Democrats are not standing behind incumbent Governor Jon Corzine. Peter Wooley with Fairleigh Dickinson University's Public Mind Poll says his surveys indicate Corzine is trailing his Republican rival Chris Christie.

WOOLEY: One in five Democrats is actually crossing over to say he or she prefers the Republican candidate. Now that is a serious problem. Whatever advantage the Democrats have in New Jersey is certainly very seriously eroded if Democrats are going to vote Republican.

Eighty-five percent of Republicans surveyed are enthusiastically backing Christie while only 73 percent of Democrats say they're in Corzine's corner. Wooley says state races usually turn on local issues but this year the national debate over health care is especially energizing Republican voters.

New Jersey residents who want to be eligible to vote in this year's election have until October 13th to register.