SOUTH JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — A new poll from Fairleigh Dickinson University, a private university in Morris County, New Jersey, finds the topic of parents’ rights is a big issue for Democrats in the state.
Parents' rights to decide what is taught in schools is a contentious issue this election season. A new poll finds Democrats lose support when New Jersey voters are asked about the subject.
Democrats enjoy a hefty registration advantage over Republicans. But Fairleigh Dickinson University Poll executive director Dan Cassino says, in his 20 years of conducting political polling, he has never seen an issue swing support from one side to the other quite like parental rights in school curricula.
“Rather than Democrats having a 16-point advantage — well, suddenly, Republicans are moving up and Democrats have only a one-point advantage,” he said.
“This is by far the biggest effect we’ve ever seen for one of these questions.”
Cassino says this polling suggests independents are leaning Republican.
“Independents generally don’t vote in these elections. So even if this message has the potential to get independents on the Republican side, it’s not clear if those independents are going to bother to show up and vote.”
He says the challenge for Republicans is turning this issue into wins on Election Day. Turnout is expected to be very low on Nov. 7, with no big statewide races on the ballot to excite voters.
“And this issue doesn’t seem to do a whole lot of that. It doesn’t make independents say they are more likely to vote, but if they vote, they are going to favor the Republicans.”
In another poll, Cassino says, support for U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez is waning as federal indictments stack up against him: 70% of Democrats want the Democratic senator from New Jersey to resign.