News reports yesterday were brimming with excitement over the negative headline they got to write about economic life in New Jersey while Governor Christie takes the national stage in Tampa at what is arguably the biggest party of the year.
While the media may relish in the fact that things in New Jersey may not be looking quite as up as Governor Christie may project, the one certainty is that the they cannot explain the most obvious disconnect that shines through the newest FDU/PublicMind Poll.
According to the previous FDU poll from the beginning of August, Governor Christie enjoys an approval rating of 55 percent, with 49 percent of respondents find his performance to be “excellent” or “good,” which is better than simply approving. Additionally, a majority of New Jerseyans believe that the state, under Governor Christie, is heading in the right direction.
Yesterday’s poll tells a different story that must make liberals’ heads spin. The latest FDU poll shows that 43 percent of New Jerseyans feel that they are worse off this year than they were last year, a number that is largely unchanged from 2011 numbers, meaning those people were also worse off last year than they were in 2010. Finally, 26 percent of New Jerseyans feel that they will be worse off economically next year than they are today.
So why the disconnect? I think its clear.
New Jerseyans, or at least registered voters, have more confidence in Governor Christie than they do in the economy itself. They know that things in New Jersey are not great right now, but they also know that they have been on the decline for a long time and that any economic pain they are feeling now is unlikely a result of Governor Christie’s policies. Instead, they clearly feel that he has slowed the bleeding and will, more than likely in a second term which they will be giving him next year, turn things around and keep the state going on the path he has laid out.
Over the first three years of the Christie era, our Governor has had to deal with a single party legislature that luckily has been willing to compromise on certain crucial pieces of legislation. By putting bipartisanship in the spotlight Christie has done wonders for his own image and legacy in New Jersey, but a Governor who does not need to worry about being re-elected can be a bit tougher on his adversaries. While some liberals could not imagine Christie being any tougher, its certainly possible and the state could end up better for it.
Just maybe, voters’ confidence in Governor Christie could then finally start seeping into polling on New Jersey’s slowly improving economy.
Just my two cents worth but I think personally likeability goes a long way in how pols are rated by people. Both the Gov and the President usually fare alot better in questions on personal qualities than they do on specific issues. Saw a line yesterday in another piece that said something to the effect that people tend to vote for people that they like.
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