Senator Frank Lautenberg (2nd R)) and Mayor of Newark Cory A. Booker pose for photos prior to the news conference between Prudential Financial and Devils Arena Entertainment naming the Prudential Center as the new home of the New Jersey Devils on January 8, 2007 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andy Marlin/Getty Images for the NHL)
A recent poll from Quinnipiac University shows Newark mayor Cory Booker is preferred over incumbent N. J. senator Frank Lautenberg for U.S. Senate in 2014 by more than half of New Jersey Democrats.
Released on Wednesday, the poll shows Booker with a substantial lead over Lautenberg of 51 – 30 percent.
After making a final decision to run for the Senate, and not take on governor Christie in 2013, Booker has gotten some push-back from Lautenberg.
The current 89-year-old N.J. senator has not officially stepped down, and made it clear he doesn’t appreciate Booker jockeying for his seat.
In a recent interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer, Lautenberg likened Booker to a disrespectful child who needs a spanking.
This most recent poll is the second poll this month, following one from Fairleigh Dickinson University, to report Booker as the favorite for the 2014 race.
The Quinnipiac poll also reports that 71 percent of Democrats say Lautenberg’s age makes work too difficult. If he chooses to run again, Lautenberg will be campaigning at the age of 90.
As Talking Points Memo reports, while Lautenberg did receive a 50 percent approval rating in this poll.
Still, Booker received a higher likability score among every group measured in the poll.
Follow Carrie Healey on Twitter @CarrieHeals.
