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NJ Poll: Voters Feel Indicted US Senator Should Quit Before His Trial

EDITOR'S NOTE: In an earlier version of this story, it was reported that Senator Menendez was facing a criminal charge of accepting cash from a Florida physician in return for his political influence. In fact, the cash in question are contributions made to a Political Action Committee (PAC).  Menendez is not, in fact, accused of accepting cash personally from the physician.

HAMDEN, CT (CBS) --  A new statewide poll suggests that New Jersey voters want US Senator Robert Menendez to resign, even though he's yet to be tried on political corruption charges filed against him in federal court.

It's bad news across the board for Menendez in the survey of almost 15 hundred voters conducted by Quinnipiac University last week. His approval rating sits at 42-36 negative. And pollster Mickey Carroll says respondents want him out.

"It's a sort of reversal of the usual pattern of first get me guilty and get punished," Carroll told KYW Newsradio. "But New Jersey voters want to punish him right now. Throw him out. 53 to 39 he ought to quit."

 

 

Breaking down the survey along political lines, 62% of Republicans are in favor of resignation along with 56% of independents. 49% of Democrats agree.

A Menendez spokesman wouldn't address the poll results in an e-mail. But he stresses that his boss has not been convicted, has seen several charges dismissed and has always maintained his activity with a longtime friend and Florida eye doctor was legal.

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