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.

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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.

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