Gov. Corzine's Approval Ratings continue falling.

" Just one in four voters (25%) say the state is headed in the right direction, the lowest percentage since November 2005 just before Governor Jon Corzine's was elected." says Fairleigh Dickinson University-PublicMind pollster Peter Woolley.

65% say the state is off on the wrong track.
54% of Democrats agree the state is on the wrong track as do four of five Republicans (80%).

Woolley explains, "In part, those dismal numbers reflect that the governor himself is emphasizing that the state is on the wrong track."

"The governor's approval rate continues to drift down with 42% approving and 43% disapproving," says Woolley and that's a 17-poinjt negative swing, "In early January he was way ahead with 48-32% approving." Those who heard "some" or "a great deal" about the governor's toll plan split with 41% approving of him and 45% disapproving. Those who've heard "little" or "none" about the financial plan approve of the governor by 44%-30%. Woolley says, "There's no way to untangle those two things."

"One in four (27%) say the governor is doing a "poor" job, up 10 percentage points from early January before his State-of-the-State speech," says Woolley. 33% rate his performance as "good" or "excellent," down from 36% in early January and from 42% in late October just before the state's legislative elections. Those who use the New Jersey Turnpike or Garden State Parkway to commute to work are more likely (33%-23%) to rate the governor's performance as "poor" than other commuters. Woolley adds, "There's no doubt the governor's proposal for raising tolls has taken a bite out of his public standing…..Considering the beating he has taken on his toll plan, it's remarkable his numbers are not a good deal worse."

"64% of New Jersey voters now say they oppose the governor's plan to raise tolls to facilitate a fiscal restructuring, up five percentage points from late January," says Woolley. 28% say they support the plan, down five percentage points from a few weeks ago.

It's not very difficult to figure out what the voters want. Asked which budget option they would support, 51% say "make very steep budget cuts" while 20% say raise tolls, 9% say raise the gas tax and 8% say raise the income tax. Woolley explains, "Budget cuts are easier said than don….after the governor lays out those cuts, there will be no shortage of well-informed and well-organized lobbies opposing those budget reductions that affect their people."

The poll of 795 New Jersey registered voters statewide was conducted from February 18 through February 24 and has a margin of error of +/- 3.5 percentage points.

By Kevin McArdle - Millenium Radio - 101.5fm