newjerseynewsroom.com

Poll: For 2012 presidential run Governor is not the 'default choice' of state's Republicans’

BY DANIEL ULLOA

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Whether it’s due to his numerous attacks on unions or their success in fighting back or perhaps the continuing budget fight, Governor Chris Christie’s polling numbers are not looking as rosy as they once did.

And while it is still early to be running for President, that’s not stopping former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney nor other contenders from hitting the campaign trail and glad-handing in the early primary states.

According to a poll released by the Eagleton Institute at Rutgers University, Mitt Romney is beating Chris Christie as the preferred nominee in a matchup against President Barack Obama in the 2012 Presidential election. 42% of those polled didn’t know who they preferred.

Romney received 13% of the vote and Christie received 12% from registered Republicans and Republican leaning independents. Former Alaskan Governor received 11% and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee received 6%.

“November is far off, but it is clear Christie is not the default choice of New Jersey Republicans,” said David Redlawsk, director of the Rutgers-Eagleton Poll and professor of political science at Rutgers University. “This is probably due mostly to his continuing denial of interest in running. But were he running, I suspect many would line up behind him.”

In the poll, Republican men favor Romney to Christie 18% to 16% and GOP women favor Sarah Palin receiving 17% and Huckabee receiving 10%. Both Christie and Romney tie for third with 7%.

Christie has repeatedly denied his intentions to run for President, but that has stopped anyone from urging him to so or conducting polling. Any comment that suggests otherwise has led to rampant speculation.

“I don't feel like I'm ready to be president,” Christie told Politico.com, “I don't want to run for president. I don't have the fire in the belly to run for president. But, yet, everyone seems to think that I've left the door open a little bit.”

In regards to his performance as Governor, Christie’s overall approval rating is 46% from all surveyed participants which is 3% down from a poll conducted in December in a poll released on March 8th. However, his disapproval rating has increased from 39% to 44% with only 10% of all of those surveyed having no opinion.

“While some polls showed Gov. Christie’s support increasing before the budget speech, reaction to the budget itself is mixed, which appears to be reflected in a decline in his postspeech favorability and job performance ratings,” said Redlawsk.

Both surveys were conducted from Feb. 24-26 with 912 New Jersey Adults in each one. The margin of error was a rate of 3.4%.