Booker Would Win Senate Race, Poll Finds

Newark Mayor Cory Booker should have no problem taking over the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the passing of Frank Lautenberg, according to a poll out today from Quinnipiac University.

Special Senate Election Demorat candidates (L-R) Sheila Oliver, Frank Pallone, Cory Booker & Rush Holt (all official portraits except Cory Booker/Getty Images)

The numbers, however, were finalized before Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver expressed interest in joining the race.

The poll finds Mayor Booker would get 53 percent of the Democratic primary vote, while U.S. Representative Rush Holt gets 10 percent and Representative Frank Pallone receives nine percent. Another 23 percent are undecided.

In a general election matchup against Republican Steve Lonegan, Booker leads 54-27 percent, according to the poll.

Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, said Booker seems to have a runaway lead at this point, but Speaker Oliver could present a problem for him.

"She's a good, established Essex County Democrat, just like him," Carroll said.

A primary election is scheduled for August, with a general election planned for October.