Brent Johnson, of the Star-Ledger reports Christie trails Clinton by 21 points in new 2016 poll amid bridge scandal.
The McClatchy-Marist poll released today shows Christie, a Republican, trailing Clinton, who is also a former Democratic senator from New York, by 21 percentage points, 58 to 37 percent, in the mock matchup.
For Christie, the new figures presented an 8 point drop from the group's last poll in mid-January, when the governor trailed Clinton by 13 percentage points, 50 to 37 percent. And it's an 18-point fall from a December poll that showed Christie trailing her 48 to 45 percent in the days before revelations that the closing of access lanes to the bridge were politically motivated..
The only GOP contender testest to poll worse that Christie was Sarah Palin.
Still, Clinton beats Ryan, the vice presidential nominee in 2012, 52-44 percent; former presidential candidate Mitt Romney 53 to 44 percent; and has double-digit leads over Rubio, Paul, Huckabee, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, and Bush. She leads Palin 62 to 35 percent.
This comes after an earlier reports that the the State Police says that Governor's Christie's helicopter did not fly over the GWB during the lane closures, that protesters rallied near the bridge today demanding Christie's resignation, and that Christie can use campaign cash for subpoena costs.
Also, this morning I retracted last night's story, RETRACTED: Christie refuses to allow members of his office testify before legislative committee, I reported from the NJSpotlight which reported that Christie's office had told NJ Senate co-chair that it would not allow members of his office to testify. Although, that story is still being reported, no second source has emerged, even at this point, so I issued a retraction and apology this morning. No second source emerges for story about "Christie's office" refuses to let members testify.
Sorry, once again. I report this story with my tail between my legs.
12:56 PM PT: Some of you may enjoy reading Barbara Buono getting last laugh, she says "Democrats have Christie buyer's remorse" which got overshadowed.
1:08 PM PT: In GOP donors worried about Christie's 2016 prospects The Associated Press reports that some donors are beginning to get a little worried.
CHICAGO — Where just months ago Republicans brimmed with pride over Chris Christie's landslide re-election, doubts about his prospects as a potential presidential candidate have begun creeping into the minds of some donors in key states, according to some GOP fundraisers.
2:37 PM PT: agiftagain has found more sources, but the first two are based on the NJSpotlight Story. The third in PolitickerNJ is unique and even precedes the NJSpotlight Story, but it is not clear to me from that one if the Christie office's refusal is just for today's hearings or all of them.
If it were all, it should be such a big deal as to be in all the headlines.
Two more sources
2:49 PM PT: National Democrats followed Christie to Chicago, holding a press conference where former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland questioned Christie’s managerial skills in light of the Bridgegate scandal.
“I’m suggesting two things, two possibilities: Either the governor knew and he is lying, or he is the most inept, incompetent chief executive imaginable,” Strickland said.
But Strickland also encountered questions about why Democrats didn’t do more to help Christie’s opponent in last fall’s governor’s race, state Sen. Barbara Buono. Those questions have re-surfaced after the prominent Star-Ledger newspaper in New Jersey said it regretted endorsing Christie and Buono unleashed a torrent of criticism toward fellow Democrats in The New York Times.
2:59 PM PT: MSNBC confirms NJSpotlight story!
Let Me Start: Christie keeping some GOPers worried
PLAYING HARDBALL: As the investigation into the George Washington Bridge lane closures continues, you can count on one thing: the top dog isn’t giving in that fast. Reports today reveal that the Christie administration has informed Seate Legislative Oversight Committee chairman Sen. Robert Gordon that no members of the governor’s office will appear before any legislative committees. Will this policy hurt the Christie administration’s defense? Or will it only hurt the investigation to be met with a wall of silence?
Meanwhile, new subpoenas were issued this week in the investigation, and the big question now is whether those members of Christie’s circle will comply, or plead the Fifth. This web is getting more and more tangled as the weeks drag on, and you can be sure that this will have a lasting effect on Christie’s legacy as New Jersey governor–and as a potential presidential candidate.
Programming note: Sen. Robert Gordon will join Hardball tonight at 7 p.m. ET on msnbc.
So now I can go back and retract my retraction! And, now apologize for apologizing!