A new internal poll on the Jersey City mayoral race from Hudson County Commissioner Bill O’Dea (D-2) has him edging Ward E Councilman James Solomon to make the December runoff against former Gov. Jim McGreevey.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Between August 6th and August 9th, the Hart Research Group polled 401 Jersey City voters, 75 percent of which have voted in past mayoral races, according to a poll memo obtained by HCV.
Initial findings have McGreevey at 30 percent, O’Dea at 18 percent, Solomon at 15 percent, former Board of Education President Mussab Ali at seven percent, and Council President Joyce Watterman at three percent. Notable, 27 percent are still undecided.
“Bill O’Dea has been building a true grassroots campaign for more than a year, and now that hard work is paying off as he is poised to secure a place in the city’s runoff election and ultimately defeat Jim McGreevey,” said O’Dea for mayor Campaign Media Strategist Phil Swibinski.
“As voters learn more about Bill’s history as a lifelong Jersey City resident and a dedicated public servant his support grows significantly, putting him in a strong position as the campaign ramps up. With an engaged volunteer base, a strong Council ticket and the resources to communicate his message across the city, Bill O’Dea is ready to win this election and deliver the leadership that Jersey City residents deserve.”
The poll memo also indicates that 70 percent of O’Dea backers say that they “support strongly,” compared to 54 percent for McGreevey and 48 percent for Solomon.
Furthermore, when poll respondents were limited to only past mayoral race voters, the race tightens: McGreevey 29 percent, O’Dea 22 percent, and Solomon 18 percent.
35 percent of respondents also said they’d vote for O’Dea after hearing positive information about his record and plans for the city, which came after giving general positive information about the top three candidates in the race.
O’Dea also leads the field in favorability, with plus 33, compared to plus 21 for McGreevey and plus 18 for Solomon.
“In summary, Bill O’Dea begins the sprint to November already in a solid position to make the runoff,” the poll memo concludes.
“But our polling makes clear that O’Dea gains with voters as they hear more about his background and his plans for Jersey City, leaving him well-positioned to make the runoff as voters become more familiar with him.”
This is the third Jersey City mayoral poll to be publicized in the past week-and-a-half: A Solomon poll had him behind McGreevey by just one point, per the New York Post, while a McGreevey poll had him leading Solomon by 20, as the Jersey City Times reported.
Both those polls had O’Dea sitting at a distant third place at 12 percent, which was consistent with prior polls released by those two camps.
Police Officer Christina Freeman, who has already been certified for the non-partisan November 4th contest, is yet to be included in a poll.
The filing deadline for the Jersey City mayoral race set for today at 4 p.m.
McGreevey at 30% makes me lose hope for Jersey City. He resigned in disgrace like his pal Cuomo. The fact that either one of them is being considered is disturbing. I guess JC isn’t the progressive stronghold it’s portrayed as. Damn shame.
Jersey City is quite regressive and has lots of communists. People who accomplish nothing but hate and envy. When they come for you and yours, you’ll know. Then the tears.
The “disgrace” he resigned for was being gay. Sure he gave his boyfriend a job but hiring friends, family and cronies is the life blood of New Jersey politics – not something a NJ governor is disgraced by or forced to resign for.
Cuomo resigned amid accusations of sexual misconduct and harassment. McGreevy resigned because he was outed as gay.
Do you really think conflating the two is “progressive?”
He resigned in disgrace because he appointed a foreign national to a national security position while also sexually harassing him.
He also can’t seem to avoid not embezzling funds from public organizations.
Even the Episcopal Church didn’t buy his whole fake contrition schtick.
McSleezy is corrupt to the core.