The Quinnipiac poll has good news for Gov. Jon Corzine of New Jersey this morning.

Well, I mean, really relatively good news. He trails by 9 percentage points, 51 percent to 42 percent, and the last poll had him down 12, 53 percent to 41 percent. Also note:

Voters say 50 – 15 percent that they associate the Democratic Party with corruption more than the Republican Party. Independent voters blame Democrats 56 – 9 percent. Even 28 percent of Democrats point the finger at their own party.
“Is corruption a big problem? Wow, is it! Almost everyone in New Jersey thinks so. And two thirds feel personally embarrassed to live in a state where politicians are pictured in handcuffs,” said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. “More than half associate corruption with the Democratic party. Almost a third say both parties share the blame. Republicans pretty much get a pass.”

Of course, to be corrupt, you have to have some power worth influencing.