NEW JERSEY
Population (1994): 7,904,000 (up 2.2% from 1990), 3.0% of U.S. total
Voting-age pop.: 5,974,000; 1994 turnout, 34%
Median age: 34.5 years
Median household income: $42,280 ($10,016 above U.S. median)
Unemployment: 6.4% (0.8% above U.S. average, March 1996)
Last presidential election: Clinton (D): 43% Bush (R): 41% Perot (I): 16%
Congressional delegation: Seven Democrats, eight Republicans
Ben Franklin, referring to the state's position between Philadelphia and New York City, called New Jersey "a valley of humility between two mountains of conceit." Though still in the shadow of the two cities, the state is a political bellwether, with social diversity that...