Ciattarelli Closes Gap In Latest Governor's Race Poll

NEW JERSEY — Just over a week left until Election Day and Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli is getting closer to closing the gap in the polls for New Jersey's gubernatorial race. A recent Emerson College/PIX 11 poll showed Ciattarelli six points behind Gov. Phil Murphy.

Ciattarelli's jump in the polls comes after a Stockton University poll showed a nine point deficit in late September. The Stockton poll was conducted from Sept. 17-25, via live phone calls from interviewers who were mostly Stockton students. Overall, 85 percent of interviews were conducted on cell phones and 15 percent on landline phones.

The Emerson College poll was 50 percent to 44 percent, among likely voters. Here are some key points from the poll:

• Murphy is leading among women, 57 percent to 40 percent
• Ciattarelli is leading among men, 50 percent to 41 percent
• Murphy leads among those aged 18-29 (58 percent to 42 percent), those 30-49 (47 percent to 41 percent), and those 65 and older (53 percent to 42 percent)
• Ciattarelli leads 49 percent to 46 percent among those 50-64

A slim majority, 51 percent, of New Jersey likely voters believe taxes should be the first priority for the next Governor — taxes have been a staple in the Ciattarelli campaign.

The new Emerson poll comes as Murphy enters a final push for the polls, including former President Barack Obama in a campaign rally in Newark.

A Monmouth poll from mid-September put Murphy over Ciattarelli by 13 points at 51 percent to 38 percent. Read more here: Latest Poll: Murphy Has Big Lead, Ciattarelli Says Race Is Close

A Rutgers-Eagleton poll released in June said the election is "Murphy's to lose," with 52 percent of registered voters saying they'd cast ballots for the incumbent governor and just 26 percent saying they'd choose Ciattarelli. Read more here: NJ Gov. Candidate: $490K Debate Fundraising Quota Is A 'Travesty'

According to a poll released by The Ciattarelli Campaign in September, the Republican candidate trails Murphy by three points, 42 percent to 45 percent.

The Club for Growth PAC poll puts Murphy in the lead over Ciattarelli, 43 percent to 41 percent, also within the margin of error.

Election Day is Nov. 2. Early in-person voting will take place in New Jersey for the first time in state history as part of the 2021 general election from Oct. 23 to Oct. 31.