Gov. Chris Christie earned his highest job rating ever, with nearly three-quarters of New Jersey voters approving of his performance, according to a
Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday.
With his 74 percent approval, Christie, a Republican who drew Democratic support after working together with President Barack Obama to respond to Hurricane Sandy, matched New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo as having the highest approval rating of any governor in any state surveyed by Quinnipiac.
Christie received his most support from Republicans and independents, though 56 percent of the Democrats surveyed also had a favorable rating of him. He also showed healthy favorability among women, Hispanics and union households — groups Christie hasn’t traditionally attracted.
Overall, 68 percent of voters said the governor deserves re-election. In a press release, Maurice Carroll, director of the polling institute, said Christie's re-election to a second term later this year "doesn’t look like a problem."
In the 2013 election, Christie would easily defeat several potential Democratic opponents, including the state Senate's Democratic leader, Stephen Sweeney, and State Sens. Richard Codey and Barbara Buono, the poll found.
Voters also appreciated Christie's strong pushback and vehement criticism of House Speaker John Boehner after the speaker decided not to hold a vote on a Sandy aid package in early January.
"For me, it was disappointing and disgusting to watch,” Christie said during a
news conference following the standoff. "Last night the House of Representatives failed that most basic test of public service and they did so with callous indifference to the suffering of the people of my state."
Even New Jersey Republicans supported Christie's criticism of the House by a margin of 70-22.
Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,647 registered voters by telephone in early January. The poll has a margin of error of 2.4 percentage points.
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