C more- RUTGERS CONTACT: STEPHEN SALMORE. President Ford continues to be the first choice of New Jersey Republicans

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1 for their party s presidential nomination, according to the latest New Jersey Pall. President Ford continues to be the first choice of New Jersey Republicans THE STATE UNIVERSITY THE EAGLETON INSTITUTE OF POLITIS WOOD LAWN.NEILSDN AMPUS.NEW BRUNSWIK.NEW JERSEY D1/82B-2210 RELEASE: 19 1 OF NEW JERSEY more- cent and 6 percent respectively. They were followed by Senator Birch Bayh with although not declared candidates were next, being volunteered as the choice of 7 per and Sargent Shriver with 10 percent. Senathrs Edward Kennedy and Hubert Humphrey, group as the choice of 17 percent, followed by Senator Henry Jackson with 12 percent clared candidates for their party s nomination. Governor George Wallace led this The Poll also asked the state s Democrats their preference among the de name either candidate as their favorite. Ford, 36 percent preferring Reagan, 11 percent undecided and 15 percent refusing to party, the race between Ford and Reagan is much closer, with 38 percent favoring Among New Jersey Independent voters who lean toward the Republican weeks of February, before the New Hampshire and Massachusetts primaries. 60 percent to 29 percent. The most recent Poll was conducted during the first two Before last November s elections, Ford led Reagan by a larger margin of favored neither candidate. Ronald Reagan. Thirteen percent were undecided and 9 percent volunteered they Republicans, 49 percent favored Ford, 30 percent preferred former alifornia Governor 1 found that among those New Jerseyans who considered themselves to be University The statewide survey, conducted by the Eagleton Institute of Politics of Rutgers RUTGERS ONTAT: STEPHEN SALMORE MARH 6, 1976 FOR RELEASE: MONDAY MORNING,

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3 Among New rersey Independent voters leaning toward the Democratic cent of the state s DemOcrats were undecided. 3 percent. All other candidates were the choice of less than 2 percent, and 30 per 5 percent and former Governor Jimmy arter and ongressman Morris!Jdall both with -more- Among the Democratic candidates, voter s political attitudes influenced or less. was strongest among younger voters under 30, and those with a high school education Ford did best with those over 50 and among the better educated. Reagan s support drew their support from different groups in the state, Among the Republican candidates, Poll officials also pointed out that the various candidates in both parties Only 3 percent of Independents named Wallace as their second choice. Independents, Jackson led as the second choice of 11 percent, Shriver was second with 10 percent, Bayh was third with 8 percent and Udall was fourth with 6 percent. 4th place as the second choice of only 5 percent of Democrats. Among New Jersey s cent, Bayh with 7 percent, and Jackson with 6 percent. Governor Wallace dropped to mentioned second choice candidates by the state s Democrats were Shriver with 8 per and Democratic-leaning Lndependents their second choice. The three most frequently of the race as a result of the many primary contests, the Poll also asked Democrats On the assumption that several of the Democratic candidates might drop out Humphrey with 3 percent. All other candidates had less than 3 percent. followed by Kennedy and Shriver at 5 percent, Bayh and Udall at 4 percent, and 22 percent and 11 percent respectively. Jimmy arter was third with 8 percent, party, Wallace and Jackson maintained their first and second place positions, with NJP1S l Page 2

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5 Shriver also drew much of his support from this group. arter and Udall were sup () opyright, The Eagleton InstItute, interviewed by telephone. 15, when a scientifically selected sample of 1005 adults 18 years and older were Eagleton Institute of Politics. The latest Poll was conducted between February 5 and The New Jersey Poll is conducted regularly throughout the year by the $15,000 and college educations. Bayb and arter were also attractive to younger voters, arter, Udall and Bayh did best among Democrats and Independents with incomes over tended to be concentrated in the older age groups of both Democrats end Independents. Jackson supporters came from all income and education categories, but officials noted that Shriver s following was very similar to that of Robert Kennedy s. tributed across educational levels, and was especially strong among blacks. Poll Shriver also did well with lower income voters, but his support was dis of the state. $15,000, less than a highschool education, and also to be from the more rural areas mining candidate preferences. Wallace supporters tended to have incomes under Education and income levels of the voters also were influential in deter ported by both liberals and conservatives, doing somewhat better among liberals. Among cons etvatives, Governor Wallace was the clear favorite, although their choices. Declared candidates Bayh and Tackson did best among liberals as did noncandidates Kennedy and Humphrey. NJPTO 1 Page 3

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7 BAKGROUND MEMO--RELEASE %19-1, MONDAY MORNING, MARH 8, 1976 WOOD LAWN.NEI LSON AMPIJS.NEW BRUNSWIK.NEW JERSEY / THE EAGLETON INSTITUTE OF POLITIS Humphrey was volunteered this was also recorded.) read was rotated so that each was first for one tenth of the interviews. If Kennedy or candidates. Since then Lloyd Bentson has withdrawn. The order in which the names were ( -y the first ten names were read. At the time of the survey these were the declared + Volunteered - * Less than 4 of one percent 47 - Don t Know Other Humphrey Bentson 1 3 * 0 Kennedy Bayh 5% 7% 4% 8% First hoice Second hoice First hoice Second hoice Wallace UdaLl Shapp Jackson arter Byrd Democrats Leaning Democrat Harris Shriver Independents Who would you like to see run as the Democratic candidate? Don t Know Neither (volunteered) Ford Reagan 30% 36% 29% Republicans Leaning Republican Republicans Independents Feb Nov the Republican candidate- Ronald Reagan or Gerald Ford? Turning now to this year s Presidential election who would you like to see run as The questions used for this release were as follows: OF NEW JERSEY RUTGERS THE STATE UNIVERSITY

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