New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s (R) approval rating has dropped 15 percent since the George Washington Bridge scandal broke and 20 percent over the course of the last year, according to a Monmouth University/Asbury Park Press poll released Monday.
Forty nine percent of registered voters approve of the job Christie is doing, while 46 percent disapprove.
The poll marks the first time voter approval of Christie has dipped below 50 percent since 2011, according to Politicker NJ.
While overall approval of the governor is down, 77 percent of Republicans in the state still approve of Christie. However, 89 percent of Republicans approved of the job Christie was doing in January.
Monmouth University Polling Institute Director Patrick Murray attributed Christie’s fall to the bridge scandal and how it has overshadowed his accomplishments.
“This hole is getting deeper. Christie’s image as the hero of Sandy is now just a fading memory,” he said.
The Monmouth University/Asbury Park Press poll surveyed 803 New Jersey residents via phone Feb. 19-23 with a margin of error plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.