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Christie Ratings Drop as Presidential Buzz Increases

New Jersey

Garden State divided on Christie versus Jeb Bush

West Long Branch, N.J. – Gov. Chris Christie’s job ratings in New Jersey have continued their post-Labor Day decline according to the Monmouth University Poll.  Nearly two-thirds of Christie’s constituents say that he is more concerned about his own political future than he is about the state, with increasing skepticism of the stated purpose for his recent foreign trips.  New Jersey, which has voted Democratic in the last six presidential elections, feels Hillary Clinton would make a better president than Christie.  It may be more surprising that Christie does not have a clear advantage when he is pitted against GOP contender Jeb Bush, even among his fellow New Jersey Republicans.

When New Jerseyans are asked who would make a better president – Chris Christie or Hillary Clinton, Clinton gets the nod from 58%, with 32% choosing the Garden State governor.  Clinton is the clear preference among state Democrats (78% to 16% for Christie) and independents (52% to 33%), while Christie gets the nod among Republicans (58% to 29%).

When Christie is pitted against another establishment Republican, specifically former Florida governor Jeb Bush, New Jerseyans are divided on who would make a better president – 40% select Christie while 36% choose Bush.  Another 15% say neither would make a good president, 1% volunteer that both would be equally as good in the White House, and 8% have no opinion.  New Jersey Democrats (38% Christie to 37% Bush) and independents (38% Christie to 36% Bush) are split down the middle on the two probable candidates.  What may be more surprising is that Christie is not the overwhelming presidential preference of his fellow New Jersey Republicans – 46% say Christie would make the better president while 37% say Bush would be a better fit as Commander-in-Chief.

“Clinton leading Christie in ‘Blue Jersey’ isn’t too much of a shock, but Jeb Bush’s competitiveness among Garden State Republicans should give the governor pause,” said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute in West Long Branch, N.J.

Christie has a larger advantage over Scott Walker, the Wisconsin Governor who, like Christie, built his reputation on cutting state spending and reducing public pension benefits.  More New Jerseyans say Christie (38%) would make a better president than Walker (26%), with 15% saying neither would make a good president, 1% preferring both equally, and 20% having no opinion.

Gov. Christie’s job rating currently stands at 48% approve to 44% disapprove among New Jersey residents and 47% approve to 46% disapprove among the state’s registered voters.  This marks an increase in his disapproval numbers since the fall, when his rating stood at 46% approve to 39% disapprove among all residents and 46% approve to 42% disapprove among voters.

“Christie’s ratings stabilized last spring after a big Bridgegate-related drop.  But as his travel schedule increased and presidential speculation grew during last fall’s campaign, state voter opinion started to erode again, slowly but steadily,” said Murray.

Two-thirds of New Jerseyans (66%) believe that Gov. Christie is more concerned with his own political future than he is with governing the state (25%).  Back in September, 56% of state residents felt that Christie was more focused on his own ambitions while 33% said he was concentrating on New Jersey issues.  Similarly, Christie’s trade mission to Great Britain earlier this week was seen by 65% of New Jerseyans as mainly designed to boost his presidential prospects.  Only 17% said the trip’s main purpose was to build trade relations between New Jersey and Britain.  After Christie made a similar trip to Mexico last fall, 52% saw the trip as primarily to serve his presidential ambitions compared to 21% who said the trip was mainly to help the state.

The shift in public opinion about Christie’s priorities is due mainly to increased skepticism among his fellow Republicans.  In September, a majority (54%) of Garden State Republicans said that Christie was more focused on the state than his own political future (33%).  The GOP constituency’s view has now flipped, with 54% saying Christie’s ambitions are his paramount concern and only 33% saying his state duties are more important to him.  Republicans were divided on the purpose of the Mexico trip – 33% said it was to help Christie’s presidential hopes and 31% said it was to boost New Jersey’s economy.  They are much more likely to see this week’s overseas jaunt as a presidential campaign stop (58%) rather than a state-focused trade mission (21%).

“Even New Jersey Republicans are starting to wonder whether Gov. Christie is treating his day job as an afterthought,” said Murray.

Practically 4-in-5 New Jerseyans (79%) believe that Christie is planning a 2016 run for president, slightly higher than September, when 75% said the same before his political action committee was formed.  Overall, 47% say that Christie’s travel schedule and potential presidential plans have had no impact on his performance as governor and 9% say this has actually made him more effective.  A sizable 40%, though, say that the presidential campaign focus has made Christie less effective as governor.  Among those who believe he will make a presidential run, 44% say his pre-campaign activities have made him less effective as governor, up from 39% of this group who said the same back in September.

Overall, 38% of New Jerseyans have a favorable opinion of Chris Christie as a person and 40% have an unfavorable view.  Another 23% have no opinion.  The poll also found that 52% of New Jerseyans feel that Christie does not have the right temperament to be president while 44% say he does.  These results are similar to a Monmouth University poll taken one year ago when 54% said he does not have the right temperament and 41% said he does.

The poll also found that public opinion of the overall job the state legislature is doing stands at 39% approve to 44% disapprove among all adults and 37% approve to 46% disapprove among registered voters.  These results are similar to negative ratings of the state legislature recorded in polls taken over the past twelve months.

The Monmouth University Poll was conducted by telephone with 805 New Jersey adults, including 712 registered voters, from January 30 to February 2, 2015.  The total sample has a margin of error of ± 3.5 percent and the registered voter sample has a margin of error of ± 3.7 percent.  The poll was conducted by the Monmouth University Polling Institute in West Long Branch, New Jersey.

DATA TABLES

The questions referred to in this release are as follows:

(* Some columns may not add to 100% due to rounding.)

1. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Chris Christie is doing as governor?

 

TOTAL

REGISTERED
VOTER
PARTY IDGENDER

PUBLIC
WORKER

  

Yes

NoDemIndRepMaleFemaleYes

No

Approve48%47%51%39%47%70%49%47%34%52%
Disapprove44%46%34%55%43%24%43%44%61%39%
(VOL) Don’t know8%6%16%6%10%7%7%9%5%9%
               

TREND: All adults

Feb.
2015
Sept.
2014
June
2014
April
2014
Feb.
2014
Jan.
2014
Dec.
2013
Sept.
2013
April
2013
Feb.
2013
Dec.
2012
Sept.
2012
July
2012
April
2012
Feb.
2012
Oct.
2011
Aug.
2011
May
2011
Feb.
2011
Sept.
2010
July
2010
April
2010
Feb.
2010
Approve48%46%50%51%50%59%65%61%63%70%67%53%52%51%52%54%48%47%47%45%44%41%33%
Disapprove44%39%42%41%44%32%25%24%26%17%21%35%36%35%38%38%42%49%40%38%44%44%15%
(VOL) Don’t know8%15%9%8%6%8%10%15%11%14%12%11%12%14%10%9%9%5%12%17%12%15%52%
Unwtd N

805

802800803803541802783806803816805803804803817802807801801801804

803

TREND: Registered votersFeb.
2015
Sept.
2014
June
2014
April
2014
Feb.
2014
Jan.
2014
Dec.
2013
Sept.
2013
April
2013
Feb.
2013
Dec.
2012
Sept.
2012
July
2012
April
2012
Feb.
2012
Oct.
2011
Aug.
2011
May
2011
Feb.
2011
Sept.
2010
July
2010
April
2010
Feb.
2010
Approve47%46%49%51%49%58%65%63%65%70%69%55%53%50%55%55%50%46%49%44%45%42%31%
Disapprove46%42%43%43%46%35%27%24%26%16%22%36%35%38%37%37%41%49%41%40%43%44%15%
(VOL) Don’t know6%12%8%6%6%7%8%13%10%13%9%10%12%12%9%8%8%5%9%16%12%13%53%
Unwtd N

712

680717690690470698674694697726715678692709693730725718726747719

716

2. Do you approve or disapprove of the job the state legislature is doing?

 

TOTAL

REGISTERED
VOTER
PARTY IDGENDER

PUBLIC
WORKER

  

Yes

NoDemIndRepMaleFemaleYes

No

Approve39%37%48%46%33%40%39%38%31%41%
Disapprove44%46%34%39%49%42%46%41%55%41%
(VOL) Don’t know17%17%19%15%18%18%14%20%14%18%
               
TREND: Registered VotersFeb.
2015
Sept.
2014
June
2014
April
2014
Feb.
2014
Jan.
2014
Dec.
2013
Sept.
2013
April
2013
Feb.
2013
Dec.
2012
Sept.
2012
July
2012
April
2012
Feb.
2012
Approve37%35%36%38%38%47%44%38%41%40%43%32%34%37%34%
Disapprove46%46%48%46%47%35%38%36%42%35%34%43%45%41%42%
(VOL) Don’t know17%19%17%15%14%18%19%27%17%25%22%25%21%23%24%
Unwtd N

712

680717690690470698674694697726715678692

709

TREND:
Registered Voters Continued
Oct.
2011
Aug.
2011
May
2011
Feb.
2011
July
2010
April
2010
Feb.
2010
July
2009
Feb.
2009
Sept.
2008
July
2008
April
2008
March
2008
Oct.
2007
Feb.
2007
Approve33%35%32%29%25%19%24%31%23%29%27%28%25%32%34%
Disapprove45%48%48%45%49%57%49%48%55%50%47%55%53%43%42%
(VOL) Don’t know22%17%20%26%26%24%27%22%22%21%26%17%22%25%23%
Unwtd N

693

730725718747719716792721709889720719688681

3. Is your general impression of Chris Christie favorable or unfavorable, or do you have no opinion of him?

 

TOTAL

REGISTERED
VOTER
PARTY IDGENDER

PUBLIC
WORKER

  

Yes

NoDemIndRepMaleFemaleYes

No

Favorable38%39%32%29%35%61%38%37%27%41%
Unfavorable40%42%29%51%39%22%39%40%52%36%
No opinion23%19%39%20%27%17%23%23%21%23%
            
TREND:
All adults
Feb.
2015
June
2014
April
2014
Feb.
2014
Jan.
2014
Feb.
2013
Sept.
2012
Favorable38%45%40%42%44%70%52%
Unfavorable40%38%35%37%28%19%34%
No opinion23%17%25%21%28%11%15%
Unwtd N

805

800803803541803

805

TREND:
Registered voters only
Feb.
2015
June
2014
April
2014
Feb.
2014
Jan.
2014
Feb.
2013
Sept.
2012
Favorable39%46%41%43%46%71%54%
Unfavorable42%39%37%39%31%18%34%
No opinion19%15%22%18%23%10%13%
Unwtd N

712

717690690470697

715

4. Do you think Chris Christie is more concerned with governing the state of New Jersey or more concerned about his own political future? [CHOICES WERE ROTATED]

 

TOTAL

REGISTERED
VOTER
PARTY IDGENDER

PUBLIC
WORKER

  

Yes

NoDemIndRepMaleFemaleYes

No

Governing the state of NJ25%25%27%23%23%33%25%25%22%26%
His own political future66%67%60%72%67%54%66%65%71%64%
(VOL) Both equally5%5%5%2%5%9%4%6%3%6%
(VOL) Don’t know4%3%7%3%4%4%4%4%4%4%
               
  TREND:Feb.
2015
Sept.
2014
June
2014
April
2014
Feb.
2014
Jan.
2014
Sept.
2013
Dec.
2012
Feb.
2012
Governing the state of NJ25%33%32%35%35%42%44%61%39%
His own political future66%56%55%54%56%47%38%30%48%
(VOL) Both equally5%5%7%7%5%6%12%5%6%
(VOL) Don’t know4%7%6%4%4%5%6%4%7%
Unwtd N

805

802800803803541783816

803

5. Chris Christie made a trip to Great Britain this weekend with New Jersey business leaders. Do you think this trip was mainly to build trade relations between Britain and New Jersey OR mainly to help Christie run for president? [ITEMS WERE ROTATED]

 

TOTAL

REGISTERED
VOTER
PARTY IDGENDER

PUBLIC
WORKER

  

Yes

NoDemIndRepMaleFemaleYes

No

Build trade relations17%17%15%18%15%21%16%17%13%18%
Help Christie run for president65%64%65%67%67%58%69%60%70%63%
(VOL) Both equally6%7%3%3%7%8%7%5%4%7%
(VOL) Don’t know13%12%17%12%12%13%8%17%12%13%
               
  TREND:Feb.
2015
Sept.
2014*
Build trade relations17%21%
Help Christie run for president65%52%
(VOL) Both equally6%5%
(VOL) Don’t know13%21%
Unwtd N

805

802

* Question from September 2014 was asked regarding Christie’s trip to Mexico. 

6. Do you think Chris Christie is planning to run for president in 2016, or not?

 

TOTAL

REGISTERED
VOTER
PARTY IDGENDER

PUBLIC
WORKER

  

Yes

NoDemIndRepMaleFemaleYes

No

Yes79%80%75%81%75%82%81%77%82%78%
No16%14%23%15%19%11%15%16%11%17%
(VOL) Don’t know6%6%3%4%6%7%4%7%6%5%
TREND:Feb.
2015
Sept.
2014
Feb.
2014
Dec.
2013
Yes79%75%65%69%
No16%14%26%20%
(VOL) Don’t know6%11%9%11%
Unwtd N

805

802803

802

7. Do you think his travel schedule and planning a possible presidential run has made Chris Christie more effective or less effective as governor, or has it had no impact on his performance as governor?

 

TOTAL

REGISTERED
VOTER
PARTY IDGENDER

PUBLIC
WORKER

  

Yes

NoDemIndRepMaleFemaleYes

No

More effective9%7%14%11%5%9%8%10%6%10%
Less effective40%41%35%43%42%32%41%39%51%37%
No impact47%48%42%40%48%57%50%44%41%48%
(VOL) Don’t know5%4%8%5%5%2%1%8%3%5%
              

8. Do you think Chris Christie does or does not have the right temperament to be president?

 

TOTAL

REGISTERED
VOTER
PARTY IDGENDER

PUBLIC
WORKER

  

Yes

NoDemIndRepMaleFemaleYes

No

Does44%41%55%37%40%66%48%41%35%47%
Does not52%55%39%60%55%31%48%55%60%49%
(VOL) Don’t know4%4%6%3%5%2%4%4%5%4%
              
  TREND:Feb.
2015
Feb.
2014
Jan.
2014
Sept.
2013
Does44%41%44%56%
Does not52%54%49%34%
(VOL) Don’t know4%4%6%10%
Unwtd N

805

803541

783

[QUESTIONS 9 THROUGH 11 WERE ROTATED]

9. Would Chris Christie or Hillary Clinton make a better president? [NAMES WERE ROTATED]

 

TOTAL

REGISTERED
VOTER
PARTY IDGENDER

PUBLIC
WORKER

  

Yes

NoDemIndRepMaleFemaleYes

No

Christie32%32%28%16%33%58%35%28%32%31%
Clinton58%57%61%78%52%29%55%60%53%59%
(VOL) Same/Both equally1%1%3%3%0%1%1%1%1%1%
(VOL) Neither6%7%6%2%11%7%6%6%8%6%
(VOL) Don’t know3%3%2%1%4%5%3%4%5%3%
              

10. Would Chris Christie or Scott Walker make a better president? [NAMES WERE ROTATED]

 

TOTAL

REGISTERED
VOTER
PARTY IDGENDER

PUBLIC
WORKER

  

Yes

NoDemIndRepMaleFemaleYes

No

Christie38%36%49%39%33%51%44%33%27%41%
Walker26%28%19%23%29%30%28%24%29%25%
(VOL) Same/Both equally1%1%1%0%1%1%1%1%2%1%
(VOL) Neither15%16%10%16%19%4%14%15%18%13%
(VOL) Don’t know20%20%22%21%18%14%13%27%24%19%
               

11. Would Chris Christie or Jeb Bush make a better president? [NAMES WERE ROTATED]

 

TOTAL

REGISTERED
VOTER
PARTY IDGENDER

PUBLIC
WORKER

  

Yes

NoDemIndRepMaleFemaleYes

No

Christie40%38%47%38%38%46%39%40%31%42%
Bush36%38%30%37%36%37%42%31%46%34%
(VOL) Same/Both equally1%1%1%1%0%3%1%1%1%1%
(VOL) Neither15%16%11%17%17%6%12%17%16%14%
(VOL) Don’t know8%7%12%7%8%8%6%10%7%9%

The Monmouth University Poll was sponsored and conducted by the Monmouth University Polling Institute from January 30 to February 2, 2015 with a statewide random sample of 805 adult residents, including 605 contacted via live interview on a landline telephone and 200 via live interview on a cell phone, in English.  Monmouth is responsible for all aspects of the survey questionnaire design, data weighting and analysis.  Final sample is weighted for region, age, education, gender and race based on US Census information.  Data collection support provided by Braun Research (field) and SSI (RDD sample).  For results based on this sample, one can say with 95% confidence that the error attributable to sampling has a maximum margin of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points (unadjusted for sample design).  Sampling error can be larger for sub-groups (see table below).  In addition to sampling error, one should bear in mind that question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of opinion polls.

POLL DEMOGRAPHICS (weighted)

38% Dem49% Male28% 18-34

64% White

43% Ind51% Female39% 35-54

12% Black

19% Rep 33% 55+

15% Hispanic

   

    9% Asian/Other

Registered Voter Sample (weighted)

38% Dem49% Male24% 18-34

70% White

41% Ind51% Female40% 35-54

13% Black

21% Rep 37% 55+

11% Hispanic

   

    5% Asian/Other

Click on pdf file link below for full methodology and results by key demographic groups.