Kean-Menendez: the war vs. ethics?

Almost all the polls in the past few weeks, including the Monmouth University/Gannett poll that appeared in today's paper, show Menendez with a slight lead, within or near the margin of error. And 10 percent of the likely voters have yet to make up their minds.

What is likely to decide the race? According to an Eagleton-Rutgers poll last week, it may come down to the war on terror and ethics. Those issues ranked one-two as the most important by likely voters.

Asked whether the candidates were "honest and trustworthy," 39 percent said "yes" about Kean, compared to 24 percent for Menendez. To the question, which of the candidates would you prefer to "coach your child or a child you know in sports," Kean was preferred 37 percent to 20 percent.

Asked which candidate "shares your view on the War in Iraq," 49 percent chose Menendez and 34 percent picked Kean. The respondents also gave Menendez a big edge on a question about which candidate was most likely to stand up to leaders in their own party when they disagreed about an issue - 48 percent to 34 percent.

One of the most surprising - and disturbing - poll findings was that fewer than half the respondents knew Menendez is now a U.S. senator.