Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are still the presidential frontrunners in the Republican and Democratic parties — but when it comes to the general election, the statistics among New Jersey voters tell a different story.

John Kasich speaks before the 2016 annual New York State Republican Gala on April 14 in New York City. (Photo by Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images)
John Kasich speaks before the 2016 annual New York State Republican Gala on April 14 in New York City. (Photo by Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images)
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A new Rutgers-Eagleton poll finds that when the Republican candidates are matched up against Hillary Clinton, the GOPer with the best chance is to win New Jersey is Ohio Governor John Kasich.

Ashley Koning, assistant director of the Eagleton Center said that's because independent voters aren't factored in to party primaries, but they do have a place in the general election.

"Hillary Clinton handily wins against both Cruz and Trump, but she's in a virtual dead heat with John Kasich at 43 percent," she said.

Meanwhile, Bernie Sanders' lead in New Jersey over Republican candidates is higher than Hillary Clinton's. In a general election against Trump, Clinton beats him 14 points but Sanders beats him by 21 points in New Jersey.

"Bernie is surging compared to past polls that we did," Koning said. "He's seen as the most likeable candidate out of everyone at 54 percent favorable, and he also slightly beats Hillary Clinton when it comes to favorability within their own party base."

Despite Kasich's and Sanders's popularity in the general election, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump still lead within their own parties in New Jersey. Trump is favored by 52 percent of the New Jersey Republicans polled, while Clinton is favored by 51 percent of New Jersey Democrats.

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