Few of the people who know Gov. Christie best think he has the temperament to be president. Moreover, the latest Monmouth University poll also says only 1-in-4 New Jerseyans think he even has a shot at the GOP nomination for president in 2016. Christie’s Garden State dwellers would rather see Hillary Clinton, Jeb Bush, or Scott Walker rather than their own governor in the White House.
In a hypothetical match-up with Hillary Clinton, Christie trails the Democrat 53% to 30% among registered N.J. voters. Christie also trails his fellow Republican contenders as a preferred candidate.
“More New Jersey voters believe Jeb Bush (42%) would make a better president than Chris Christie (27%). Similarly, more Garden State voters believe Scott Walker (34%) would make a better president than Christie (24%),” the poll said in a release.
“The message from New Jersey voters seems to be as simple as ABC – anybody but Christie,” said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute.
Just 29% of Christie’s Garden State constituents believe he has the right temperament to be president, while 67% say he does not. Only 1-in-4 think he has a shot at the nomination. “The state’s presidential preferences may stem from public resentment that governing New Jersey has become an afterthought for Christie,” said Murray.
Christie has spent a lot of time out of state. It shows up in the polls. “Fully 7-in-10 New Jerseyans (70%) believe that Gov. Christie is more concerned with his own political future and just 16% say that governing the state is a higher priority. Those saying Christie is looking out for himself include majorities of Democrats (75%), independents (73%), and even Republicans (54%).”
Almost half think Christie’s travels hurt the state’s image. “Nearly half (47%) of New Jerseyans believe that their governor actually hurts New Jersey’s image around the country. Just 17% say he helps the state’s image and 33% say he makes no difference to how New Jersey is seen by other Americans. Democrats (57% hurts to 9% helps), independents (44% hurts to 19% helps), and Republicans (39% hurts to 26% helps) are all more likely to say the governor hurts rather than helps the state’s image,” according to the poll.
“The recent Bridgegate indictments do not shine a positive light on the state and many New Jerseyans put Chris Christie right at the center of these negative perceptions,” said Murray.
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