Quinnipiac University poll first since Christie signed pension overhaul reform package
Gov. Chris Christie greets President Obama at Newark Liberty International Airport in this 2010 file photo while Newark Mayor Cory Booker looks on. A poll released today shows Christie's approval numbers rising while Obama's are falling.TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie’s poll numbers have improved while President Obama’s hit a new low in the Garden State, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released this morning.
New Jersey registered voters are split on what they think of Christie, with 47 percent approving and 46 percent disapproving. That’s slightly better for Christie than a June Quinnipiac poll, when 44 percent approved and 47 percent disapproved.
Obama’s approval ratings have suffered, with 52 percent of voters disapproving and 44 percent approving — down from a positive 50 percent to 46 percent in June.
And U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, up for re-election next year, also saw his rating drop, to 39 percent and 42 percent disapprove – down from a positive 45 percent to 38 percent in June.
The poll, conducted from Aug. 9 to Aug. 15, is the first from Quinnipiac since Christie signed legislation to overhaul the state’s pension and health care benefits for public workers, then slashed programs for the poor in the budget Democrats sent him. It also comes after a divisive debate between President Obama and congressional Republicans on raising the debt ceiling.
“Menendez has a lot of work to do with his re-election year coming up,” said pollster Maurice Carroll. “The debt ceiling hullaballoo has taken a toll on him and on President Obama.”
The poll also asked voters, most of whom heard about the Christie’s recent asthma attack, if they’re concerned about his health. Only 18 percent said they were.
“Almost all the neighbors heard about Gov. Christie’s asthma attack. They might have read his lament about being over-weight, but they’re not worried about his health,” Carroll said.
Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) and Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver don’t appear to have benefitted from railing against Christie’s budget cuts and unsuccessfully attempting to overturn many of them. Both Democratic leaders saw their approval ratings fall by a few points.
The Quinnipiac University Polling Institute surveyed 1,624 registered voters. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.4 percentage points.