A new Rasmussen poll finds that the Tea Party-backed effort to recall Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) would have a tough road to success — and that’s even if it survives the current court challenges against it.
The poll asked: “If an election were held today to recall Senator Menendez from office would you vote to recall him or to let him continue serving as a United States senator?” The answer is recall 39%, continue serving 34%, and 27% undecided. Menendez has an approval rating of 45%, with a matching 45% disapproval — not the sort of mega-unpopular, Gray Davis territory that could lead to a successful recall.
Also bear in mind that this poll result is a long way from even holding a recall election. The effort to gather signatures for a recall must still withstand litigation at the state Supreme Court and perhaps even the United States Supreme Court, on whether members of Congress can be recalled in the first place. And if it is found to be legal, its supporters would then have to gather 1.3 million signatures — nearly as many people as the 1.6 million who voted for John McCain in New Jersey for the high-turnout 2008 election.
