Lonegan gaining on Booker in race for U.S. Senate seat

Just three weeks until the special election for a U.S. Senate seat from New Jersey, the latest Quinnipiac University poll shows the race is getting tighter.

The survey of likely voters has Democrat Cory Booker with a 12-point lead over Republican Steve Lonegan.

That’s not the blowout earlier polls of registered voters had indicated, said Maurice Carroll, poll director.

“Maybe that ‘show horse versus work horse’ charge from Lonegan is having an impact. Maybe it’s the crime news out of Newark,” Carroll said. “Maybe it’s those stories about Booker’s business ventures that were not certainly positive for him.”

Booker gets higher marks than Lonegan from likely voters as being trustworthy, having the best experience, and understanding their problems.

Booker has a 53 percent favorability rating while Lonegan has a 35 percent favorability. But 43 percent of voters say they don’t know enough about Lonegan to form an opinion.

The special election will take place Oct. 16.