New Poll Shows Christie’s In-State Approval at Record Low

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks during the Dallas County Republicans' Spring Speaker Series, Monday, Feb. 9, 2015, in West Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
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Only 37 percent of New Jersey voters gave New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) a favorable rating, according to a new Rutgers-Eagleton Poll released Friday.

The 37 percent finding means there’s been a decline of 7 points in the last two months. A majority also said they had an unfavorable view of the governor and potential 2016 presidential candidate.

“For the first time, a clear majority (53 percent) feels unfavorable toward the governor,” the poll said. “His overall job approval is also clearly negative: 52 percent disapprove while 42 percent approve, a drop of six points since December.”

Twenty percent of those surveyed said Christie’s at times abrasive personality was to blame for his declining popularity. Another 15 percent cited Bridgegate, the controversy over massive lane closures on the George Washington Bridge that critics say was due to one of Christie’s political vendettas. Ten percent said the decline was because Christie was ignoring his duties as governor in order to possibly run for president.

The good news for Christie though is that the poll found voters are split on whether he’s been a good governor.

“38 percent of voters are positive, 33 percent negative, and 29 percent neutral,” the poll said. “But voters are increasingly negative on the direction of the state: 35 percent say New Jersey is going in the right direction, while 54 percent say it is on the wrong track.”

The poll was conducted among 694 registered voters across New Jersey between February 3 and February 10. The margin of error was plus or minus 4.2 percentage points.

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