presidency has risen sharply since September. The results of the latest New Jersey Poll, New Jerseyans discontent with the way Gerald Ford has handled the - TeL 201-828-2210 CONTACT: STEPHEN A. SALMORE New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901 Wood Lawn, Neilson Campus 0 DECEMBER 2, 1974 THE EAGLETON INSTITUTE OF POLITICS FOR RELEASE: MONDAY MORNING, -more controversy have also contributed to his declining job rating, Salmore said. Among those Ford s nomination of Nelson Rockefeller to be Vice President and the ensuing that Ford s handling of the economy was approved by a 36-27 margin. The latest Poll figures are a reversal from the September results which showed one 77 percent to 17 percent. fair and poor ratings outnumbered excellent and good ratings by almost five to overwhelmingly critical of the overall job he was doing as President. Among this group, Ford has been handling the economy. Those disapproving of Ford s economic policies were economy. The Poll found that by a 48 3 1 margin, people disapprove of the way President decline in popularity can be attributed to the public s reaction to the nation s worsening New Jersey Poll Director Dr. StDphen A. Salmore pointed out that Ford s of only fair or poor. of excellent or good, while 76 percent come down on the negative side with ratings done over the last year. Only 22 percent of those polled give Congress positive ratings New 3erseyans have an even more negative view of the job the Congress has while 42 percent said his performance was only fair or poor. In September Ford received ratings of excellent or good from 38 percent term his performance only fair or poor. The remaining 10 percent offered no opinion. overall performance as President excellent or good while a majority 54 percent conducted by the Eagleton Institute of Rutgers University, show that 36 percent rate Ford s RUTGERS UNIVERSITY The State University of New Jersey Release *13 3
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njp 13 3 Page 2 Q who favor Rockefeller s confirmation, Ford receives more positive ratings than negative ones --47 percent excellent or good to 44 percent only fair or poor. Negative ratings outnumber positive ones by three toone 69 to 23 among those who oppose Rockefeller s nomination. 7, The New ersey Poll reported last week that Rockefeller s confirmation as Vice President is favored by a narrow 47 percent to 44 percent margin here in New Jersey. Ford continues to get good marks for the way he has been conducting the nation s foreign policy, Salmore reported. The latest Poll, conducted before Ford s trip to the Far East, shows that by 48 2 5 those surveyed approved of the way he is handling foreign affairs. In September 44 percent approved and 19 percent disapproved. These latest Poll findings, Salmore explained, indicate that Ford s C Presidency is dividing New Jerseyans along partithan lines. In September, Democrats gave Ford more negative ratings than positive ones by a 52 32 margin. This margin is now 63 28 On the other hand, positive ratings among Republicans outnumber negative ones now by 60 32, up from 51 30 in September. Since Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than two to one in New Jersey this trend alone would explain Ford s decline in popularity, Salmore said. However, Ford s job rating is falling even among Independents. By 55 35, Independents are critical of the President while in September they were evenly divided 39 percent positive and 40 percent negative. more
31 NTP13 3 Page 3 How would you rate the job Gerald Ford is doing as President excellent, good, only fair or poor? Excellent and Only Fair and Good Poor Don t Know Total Respondents 36% 54% 10%. Democrat.& 28 63 9 Independent v 35 55 10 Republican.2 60 32 8 Liberal - Conservative - 38 33 59 8 52 10 18 29. 36 57 6 30 49 :&. 37 53 9 50+ - 4W 34 53 13 Less than High School 32 51 18 High School Completed 40 55 5 More than High School 35 58 7. Less than $10,000 55 14 $10,000 $15,000 36 60 5 Morethan$15,000 37 55 8 OL 00 It, Woman 39 51 10 fin rfl Self Employed 53 39 11 Salaried 36 57 7 Hourly 32 59 9 Protestant 42 50 8 Catholic 35 53 12 White 38 54 9 Non White 19 63 18 Own 38 52 10 Rent 31 59 10 The Thirteenth New Jersey Poll was conducted by telephone from the Eagleton Institute of Politics in New Brunswick, N.J. between Nov. 11 and 17. A scientifically select random sample of 1005 N.J. residents 18 years of age or older were interviewed. Copyright, The Eagleton Institute, 1974 30
TO POLiTICAL REPORTERS DECEMBER 2, 1974 FROM: STEPHEN A. SAUORE SUBJECT: THE THIRTEENTH NEW JERSEY POLL, RELEASE #13-3, MONDAY MORNING, TeI.2oz28-nso Brunswick, Ness, Iersey o8901 Wood Lawn, Neilson Campus THE EAGLETON INSTITUTE OF POLITICS Don t Know 3 Poor 26 Only Fair 49 Good 19 Excellent 2% only fair, or poor? How would you rate the job Congress has done during the past year excellent, good, No Opinion 37 27 Disapprove 19 25 Approve 44% 48% foreign affairs? Do you approve or disapprove of the way President Ford has been handling the nation s No opinion 37 20 Disapprove 27 48 Approve 36% 31% problems of the economy? Would you say you approve or disapprove of the way President Ford has been handling the No Opinion 20 10 9oor 9 12 Only Pair 33 42 Qood 34. 32 Excellent 4% 4% September November fair, or poor? How would you rate the job Gerald Ford is doing as president excellent, good, only The questions used in this release are as follows. results indicate that Ford s performance in foreign policy has little effect on his overall ratings, we would not expect this trip to have any significant favorable impact on his rating. This survey was completed before Ford s trip to the Far East. Since our RUTGERS UNIVERSITY T/zeStateUniversisyofNcw Jersey
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