Poll in N.J. shows U.S. Senate race close, but incumbent isn’t worried yet

A recent poll shows an interesting gap in the U.S. Senate race in New Jersey. But the incumbent doesn’t seem too worried … yet.

Democrat Cory Booker says he’s not concerned by a Quinnipiac University poll that shows only 10 percentage points between him and his Republican challenger, Jeff Bell.

“The focus right now is doing my job as a United States senator, and the campaign, when it heats up later this fall, that’s when I’ll focus on that,” said Booker.  “We all know the early polls don’t mean what happens when it comes down to it.”

During a visit to Camden to announce a federal grant for a job program, Booker downplayed the numbers.

“We’ll talk to you in the fall about the election when it gets started up, but now it’s do my job.”

The former mayor of Newark took office only about 9 months ago, filling the unexpired term of Frank Lautenberg who died while in office.

In last year’s special election, Republican Steve Lonegan came from very far behind to tighten the race, but still lost to Booker by 10 percentage points.