Politics

Gov. Christie’s Approval Ratings Reach New Low, Poll Finds

REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

JayLeen Murray Contributor
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Gov. Chris Christie faces the highest disapproval and lowest approval ratings among registered New Jersey voters — ever, a PublicMind survey by Farleigh Dickinson University published Wednesday finds.

The poll finds that only 21 percent of voters approve and 72 percent of voters disapprove the job Christie is doing and 71 percent of voters believe the state is headed down the “wrong track.”

“Concern about the state’s health is both broad and deep,” Krista Jenkins, the professor of political science and director of PublicMind said. “Republicans and Democrats alike think things have taken a turn for the worse.”

The poll also finds that 7 in 10 New Jersey voters are following the ongoing Bridgegate investigation of two former Christie aides who face federal charges in the possible political-driven closing of toll lanes on the George Washington Bridge in August 2013. 52 percent of those surveyed believe there is proof Christie knew and did nothing to prevent lane closure.

“The Bridgegate trial and its fallout is clearly hurting the governor,” Jenkins said. “With both sides arguing that the governor was aware of the political retaliation plan, voters are having a hard time coming up with reasons to believe his claims of innocence.”

However, the survey also reported that 57 percent of voters believe Christie should not resign or face impeachment.

The survey was published the same day of the third and final presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Christie is a top surrogate for Trump and is still supporting his campaign. Christie discussed the 2005 video of Trump making sexual comments regarding women on a WFAN radio show Tuesday. He explained that he does not defend Trump’s comments but he will continue to support the Republican candidate.

“I’m still supporting Donald. Obviously I was disappointed by what happened, and disappointed in some respects by the response initially,” Christie said in the radio show. “I’m really upset by what I heard, but in the end this election is about bigger issues than just that. So, at this point I still support him.”

On October 14, Christie signed an unpopular legislation for a 23-cent gas tax hike. The legislation is financing an eight year $16 billion transportation program, NJ.com reports.

The poll was conducted Oct. 12-16. It surveyed 848 registered New Jersey voters with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.