The Washington Times

Bob Menendez sees ‘dreadful’ 15-point poll drop

In one month’s time, Democrat Sen. Bob Menendez’s favor with constituents fell by 15 percentage points, according to a new poll from Quinnipiac University.

“U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez took an overseas trip and the poll numbers he left behind in New Jersey are dreadful — down 15 points in less than a month,” said Maurice Carroll, director of Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, in a statement posted at the group’s website.


SEE RELATED: Sen. Robert Menendez probe widens, as investigators look to decade-old dealings


The new poll shows 36 percent of New Jersey voters now approve of the job the scandal-plagued senator is doing. That’s considerably different from January, when the same polling group found 51 percent approved of Menendez’s job performance.

Forty-four percent say he’s not trustworthy — and no wonder.

Mr. Menendez has been under investigation for allegations he used his political office to improperly benefit a Florida friend and campaign donor, Dr. Salomon Melgen. Mr. Menendez also faces questions about a trip to the Dominican Republic with Mr. Melgen that led to an alleged party with prostitutes, according to various media reports, including The Daily Caller and the Washington Post.

“More than two thirds of voters have heard of his troubles and the more they know, the less they approve,” said Mr. Carroll. “By almost 3-1 voters think the Menendez charges are worth investigating.”

Only about a quarter of survey respondents think the investigation into Mr. Menendez is due to political reasons, Mr. Carroll said.

© Copyright 2013 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.

About the Author
Comments
blog comments powered by Disqus
You Might Also Like
  • IRS official Lois Lerner is sworn in on Capitol Hill in Washington on May 22, 2013, before the House Oversight Committee hearing to investigate the extra scrutiny IRS gave to tea party and other conservative groups that applied for tax-exempt status. Lerner told the committee she did nothing wrong and then invoked her constitutional right to not answer lawmakers' questions. (Associated Press)

    IRS head Lois Lerner, who invoked 5th Amendment, may be compelled to testify

  • President Obama answers questions during his new conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington on April 30, 2013. (Associated Press)

    Obama defends drone strikes, reignites Gitmo debate in crucial speech

  • ** FILE ** Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, accompanied by Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., chair of the tea party caucus, speaks during a news conference with tea party leaders about the IRS targeting tea party groups, Thursday, May 16, 2013, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Molly Riley)

    Conservatives propose compromise of balanced budget, higher debt limit

  • Celebrities In The News
  • Backstreet Boys singer-songwriter Nick Carter has written the memoir "Facing the Music and Living to Talk About It." (AP Photo/Bird Street Books)

    Nick Carter: Backstreet Boy pens memoir

  • Debbie Reynolds: We all knew Liberace was gay

  • "Glee" star Lea Michele attends the Fox Network 2013 Upfront party at Wollman Rink in Central Park in New York on Monday, May 13, 2013. (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

    Lea Michele: ‘Glee’ star has book scheduled for 2014