Public opinion of Senator Bob Menendez has plummeted since he was charged in his second corruption case in less than ten years, according to a new Monmouth University Poll.
The poll of New Jersey residents finds a clear majority – 63% – want him to resign now, including most of his fellow Democrats – which is a reversal of opinion from the last time he was under federal indictment.
Just 16% of Garden State voters say they approve of the job Menendez is doing while 74% disapprove, his record low rating – by far – in Monmouth polling going back to 2008.
For comparison, in May of 2015, the last time Menendez faced federal corruption charges, he held a much better job rating of 42% approve and 38% disapprove.
“Throughout his prior legal ordeal, Menendez could at least count on the backing of most of his fellow Democrats. That support has now cratered and is unlikely to recover since the charges keep piling up,” Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute, said.
In 2015, just 28% of New Jerseyans called for Menendez’s immediate resignation from the U.S. Senate because of the criminal charges he then faced. In fact, a clear majority (68%) – including most Republicans (65%) – were willing to give him the opportunity to clear his name even though many (47%) believed he was probably guilty at the time.
That sentiment doesn’t hold for the present indictment. Currently, 75% of state residents believe Menendez is probably guilty of the current charges and 63% say he should resign now – including 59% of Democrats who want him to step down.
“Perhaps the stash of gold bars is a little too much to stomach. Or maybe it’s simply one corruption trial too many. In any event, New Jerseyans say they have had enough and it’s time for Menendez to go,” said Murray.
The poll was conducted from February 29 to March 4 and had a sample size of 757 registered voters and a margin of error of +/- 4.3%.