New Jersey voters disenchanted with Democrats and Republicans

The latest Fairleigh Dickinson University Public Mind poll finds neither major political party is popular in New Jersey.

Just 32 percent of New Jersey voters surveyed favor the Republican Party, while 48 percent say the Democratic Party is appealing, according to political science professor Dan Cassino.

“A lot of these negative views come from the recent presidential campaign. We had a very negative campaign where a lot of the campaign came down to saying nasty things about the other side,” he said. “When you do that, voters, especially voters who are independent, get really turned off really quickly and just say a pox on both your houses.”

About a quarter of Independent voters in the state believe GOP policies are so misguided they jeopardize the country’s well-being, Cassino said.

“Forty-three percent of independents say the Democrats are a threat to the country, and that shows real problems for the Democratic Party in New Jersey going forward when a lot of independent voters simply don’t trust them, don’t like them, and think they might be a threat to the whole country.’

Voter opinion could improve, Cassino said,  if there were more cooperation between the parties to accomplish the people’s business.