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Thursday, Nov 29, 2012 6:15 PM UTC

PPP Poll: Cory Booker would have good shot at a Senate seat

The Newark mayor is a popular choice for a Senate run in New Jersey

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Topics: New Jersey, Chris Christie, Cory Booker, 2014 elections, Frank Lautenberg,

PPP Poll: Cory Booker would have good shot at a Senate seatNewark Mayor Cory Booker addresses the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C. on Sept. 4, 2012. (Credit: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

A PPP poll finds that Newark Mayor Cory Booker is a favorite among New Jersey Democrats for a potential Senate seat in 2014, should he decide to make a bid for it.

Sen. Frank Lautenberg, 88, also a Democrat, is the current seat-holder, and so far has not announced his plans for 2014. Lautenberg has a 43/36 approval rating, according to PPP, and would have a big win in a hypothetical race against Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno.

But according to the poll, only 36 percent of Democratic primary voters in the state say he should run again, and 45 percent say he should retire. From PPP:

If Lautenberg was to retire- or even if he doesn’t- the choice of New Jersey Democrats to be their next Senator is clear: Cory Booker. By a 59/22 margin Democrats say they would prefer their candidate in 2014 be Booker than Lautenberg. And Booker emerges as the strong favorite in an open seat situation too. 48% would want Booker as their candidate compared to 17% for Rob Andrews and 13% for Frank Pallone, both Congressmen who have shown an interest in moving up.

Booker has been floated as a potential challenger to Republican Gov. Chris Christie in 2013, though Christie is currently enjoying a surge in popularity following Hurricane Sandy.

Jillian Rayfield is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on politics. Follow her on Twitter at @jillrayfield or email her at jrayfield@salon.com. More Jillian Rayfield.

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