It appears the ethics investigation targeting New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez is hurting his chances to return to Washington.

A new WNBC/Marist poll released on Friday shows that, if this were Election Day, Rep. Tom Kean, Jr. would defeat Menendez 42 percent to 37 percent.

This is a big change from two polls taken earlier this week, where likely voters were polled, and Menendez was slightly ahead.

More than half of those polled in this survey were aware of Menendez's recent troubles. The federal government is investigating his leasing of a building he owned to a non-profit agency who also received federal money. There are also concerns about possible unethical dealings while in Hudson County government.

Overall, 52 percent said they were aware of the Menendez investigatio, while 47 percent were not.

Corzine resigned from the U.S. Senate in January to become governor and appointed Menendez to fill the final year of his U.S. Senate term.

But Menendez repeatedly has found himself defending alleged ethical missteps and, despite representing a state that hasn’t elected a Republican to the U.S. Senate in more than 30 years, is in a tight race with Republican state Sen. Tom Kean Jr.