NJ Patch Coronavirus Survey: Job Losses Hurt; Trump In Disfavor

NEW JERSEY – Nearly half of New Jersey residents are displeased with the federal government's response to the coronavirus pandemic, and a majority disapprove of President Trump's performance during the crisis, according to an informal survey Patch conducted Tuesday.

About 47 percent of the survey's more than 13,000 respondents said they are dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with the federal response, compared to 42.5 percent who say they are either satisfied or very satisfied.

Fifty-two percent of respondents said they are either dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with the president's performance, compared to 41 percent saying they are satisfied or very satisfied. Among those expressing the strongest views, the very dissatisfied outnumbered the very satisfied by a 3-2 ratio.

Respondents thought better of the state government's response to the crisis, with 70 percent expressing positive views about its performance. The same percentage expressed positive views about Gov. Phil Murphy's performance, and his share of "very satisfied" answers was noticeably greater than that of the state government as a whole.

The survey, which appeared in questionnaire form earlier Tuesday on Patch, is meant not to be a scientific poll but only to give a broad idea of public sentiment.

The numbers, however, nearly mirror a Monmouth University poll that showed high marks for Murphy and low marks for Trump on the handling of the crisis:

The Patch survey included questions about how New Jersey residents have fared in the economic downturn resulting from the pandemic, and for many the picture is grim.

About 16 percent of respondents said they had been laid off, furloughed or dismissed as a result of the pandemic, and another 16 percent said they had lost significant working hours. Nearly a third said a family member had lost a job, and nearly a fourth said a family member had lost significant working hours.

Finally, the survey asked how well respondents are complying with stay-at-home orders and social distancing guidelines.

Eighty-four percent of respondents say they almost always comply with the stay-at-home order, and 92 percent said they almost always practice social distancing when they must leave their homes.

But respondents don't think their neighbors are doing nearly so well at following the rules. Only 31 percent said others in the community almost always comply, while 40 percent said those others often do and 25 percent said only sometimes.