Chris Christie for President! Oh, wait...
A new poll finds New Jersey voters are split in their opinion of Gov. Chris Christie, while a majority approve of President Barack Obama.
The Rutgers-Eagleton poll found 44 percent of respondents gave Christie a favorable rating, while 42 percent viewed him unfavorably and 14 percent had no opinion. That’s similar to the last poll in February, when 46 percent viewed Christie favorably and 44 percent disapproved
Obama’s favorability rating was at 55 percent in the poll out Friday, while 32 percent viewed him unfavorably and 13 percent had no opinion. Obama’s had similar ratings in the February poll, when 57 percent viewed him favorably and 36 percent disapproved.
Christie isn't in as negative territory as GOP stalwarts Scott Walker - WI, Rick Scott - FL, or Kasich - OH; in breaking even, he's similar to Rick Snyder - MI. Still, I'd love that campaign ad: "Chris Christie: not as bad as Rick Scott and no worse that Rick Snyder."
Despite what you read in the DC-centric press, where in the country is the model of tea party Republicanism winning hearts and minds? Not New Jersey. Back in January from PPP:
Barack Obama would easily win New Jersey again if he had to stand for reelection today, even if Republicans put forth Chris Christie as their candidate. Obama leads Christie by a 17 point margin in a hypothetical contest, the same amount Mike Huckabee and Newt Gingrich trail by.
How about something more recent? This story is from 3/31:
Gov. Chris Christie would trail President Obama by six percentage points in a hypothetical national matchup, according to a poll released today.
In a poll conducted by Fairleigh Dickinson University, Christie takes 40 percent of the support, compared to 46 percent for Obama.
Nationally, Christie has another problem. Accordign to
Gallup, no one knows who the heck he is, and that includes Republicans.
Though New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is well regarded in Republican circles and mentioned as a potential 2012 Republican presidential candidate, more than half of Americans have no opinion of him. He is slightly better known among Republicans, who generally view him positively.
But even among Republicans, he gets a 41% favorable and a 47% no opinion. Among all voters, that's 27% favorable and 52% no opinion.
So why does Christie's name keep coming up in discussions of the presidential race? It isn't that the Republican Governors are doing so well in general, and it isn't that Christie would carry his home state, and it isn't that the public is clamoring for Christie. It's that the GOP is so weak, it's "someone, anyone" time.
Why else would the Donald even be mentioned?