Poll: Ravi Bhalla In Dead Heat In NJ Congressional Race

India-West News Desk

HOBOKEN, NJ – In a recent internal poll conducted by the campaign team of Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, the mayoral candidate finds himself in a statistical dead heat against incumbent Rep. Robert J. Menendez in the Democratic primary for Congress in New Jersey’s 8th district.

According to the poll, conducted by GQR, a prominent Democratic polling firm, Menendez leads Bhalla by a margin of 44% to 41%, with 15% of respondents still undecided. These numbers, the New Jersey Globe reported, contrast significantly with an internal poll commissioned by the Menendez campaign just last month, which showed the congressman leading by 22 points at 46%, with Bhalla trailing at 24%, and a third candidate, Kyle Jasey, at 6%.

GQR explained the disparities, noting that Menendez’s polling sampled registered Democrats, while Bhalla’s internal poll focused on likely voters with a history of participation in Democratic primaries.

A striking aspect of the findings is the perception among Democrats, as nearly three-quarters (73%) believe Menendez is “guilty of bribery and serving the interests of foreign governments,” and almost two-thirds (64%) express the sentiment that it’s “time for new leadership in Congress.”

Bhalla’s name recognition among likely Democratic primary voters was reported at 43%, with favorable and unfavorable ratings not provided.

The poll, conducted from February 1-7, had a sample size of 403 likely Democratic primary voters and a margin of error of +/- 4.9%.