On eve of presidential launch, only 30% approve of Christie at home

By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog

After his unproductive overseas trip in February, Save Jerseyans, I wrote an open letter (of sorts) to the Governor and told him that it was in his own best interest to come home and govern.

He didn’t listen. And…

Almost 5 months later, his approval rating in the latest Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind poll has hit 30%. A full 55% disapprove.

drumthwacketThat’s George W. Bush pre-surge bad. In fact, it’s worse than some of Governor Corzine’s worst ratings. These are only-staff-and-close-relatives approve numbers (as further evidenced by another recent poll finding N.J. Republicans favor Scott Walker in the primary over their native son). Things aren’t too much better nationally where, we found out yesterday, Chris Christie is second only to Donald Trump for the highest percentage of primary voters who are ruling out supporting him.

At the heart of the collapse here in Jersey? Leadership perceptions, according to the number-crunchers. “Voters appear to feel abandoned by their leaders. Those at the helm in state government are clearly letting those whom they represent down,” said Krista Jenkins, director of  FDU’s PublicMind. “With sentiments like these, state legislators will more than likely face an unhappy electorate in a few months.”

Those legislators fare even worse than Christie; only 24% of New Jerseyans think they’re doing anything useful, but thanks to redistricting, almost all of them will be back in January 2016. Some system, huh? Here’s hoping SCOTUS helps us with that particular problem….

What would help Chris Christie solve his problem, both here and in the other 49? As I’ve said MANY times before, to the point of boring myself, a fresh focus on the home front – including the 2015 legislative elections where low turnout provides a unique opportunity for his party – is what the doctor ordered. I’ve all but completely abandoned hope, however, that he’ll ever listen to me and take his medicine before it’s too late!

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Matt Rooney
About Matt Rooney 8621 Articles
MATT ROONEY is SaveJersey.com's founder and editor-in-chief, a practicing New Jersey attorney, and the host of 'The Matt Rooney Show' on 1210 WPHT every Sunday evening from 7-10PM EST.

6 Comments

  1. Christie has always been only for himself and what he wants. I doubt that he will do anything to get any NJ Republicans elected. Remember his feud last year with NJ Senate Minority Leader Kean because Kean’s work to get Republicans elected interfered with Christie’s drive to win endorsements from Democrats.

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