New Jersey Poll Asks Christie's Presidential Question
By Ian Bush
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (CBS) --- The question of 'will he or won't he' weighs heavily on Governor Christie in the latest poll of New Jersey voters.
At first glance, the governor's numbers look good.
"He gets, overall, a positive job performance rating -- 52 percent of New Jersey voters approve of the job he's doing as governor, said Rutgers-Eagleton poll director David Redlawsk."
Redlawsk says if you drill down to the issues, "Everything from tax policy to the state budget to the economy, as well as the pension fund crisis..."
And Christie's marks are much lower -- even among his fellow Republicans.
"New Jerseyans think he's running for president -- it's really that simple," Redlawsk said.
More than half believe the time he's spending in Iowa and New Hampshire as head of the Republican Governors Association points to loftier goals. And, Redlawsk says, some of those surveyed believe that leaves Christie less focused at home:
"48 percent of voters say the decisions he's making here in New Jersey on state issues are really more about his potential candidacy, while 38 percent say his decisions are about what's best for New Jersey," he said.
The poll of 871 Garden Staters, taken between July 28th and August 5th, found opinion rebounding on Christie when it comes to Hurricane Sandy recovery: Redlawsk says Christie is up six points to 59 percent approval after taking a hit after the Bridgegate scandal and amid talk about favoritism in recovery funding.