Quinnipiac University poll shows 51 percent approve of Christie
Gov. Chris Christie at the Statehouse.TRENTON — A majority of New Jersey voters approve of Gov. Chris Christie's job performance, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released this morning.
Fifty-one percent of voters approve of Christie, while 36 percent disapprove. That’s a major jump from the last Quinnipiac poll, taken on June 17, when 44 percent approved and 43 percent disapproved.
“This is a good poll for Christie," said pollster Maurice Carroll. "People are getting to know him, and they apparently are getting to like him."
President Obama does not fare as well. Fourty-seven percent approve of the president and 47 percent disapprove. In June, 50 percent of New Jersey voters approved of his job performance and 46 percent disapproved.
Voters’ perceptions of Christie’s personality have also improved. When asked if they saw him as more of a leader or a bully, 51 percent said “leader” and 39 percent said “bully.”
But slightly more voters chose to describe Christie as "confrontational" than "honest and refreshing" when given the choice.
And while they’re the second and third most powerful elected officials in the state, most voters still don’t know enough about Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) and Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex) to form an opinion. Seventeen percent approve of Sweeney’s job performance and 28 percent disapprove, and 55 percent have no opinion. Nineteen percent approve of Oliver, while 29 disapprove and 63 percent do not know enough to form an opinion.
Quinnipiac surveyed 1,190 registered New Jersey voters between Aug. 9 and 17, producing a margin of error of 2.8 percentage points.
Previous coverage:
• N.J. Gov. Christie talks tax cap with Somerset County's last dairy farmer
• Mendham Borough, Township don't mind N.J. Gov. Chris Christie making an example of them
• Gov. Chris Christie extends deadline for teacher salary concessions
• Gov. Chris Christie vows to fight for N.J. children with autism
• Even in Christie's hometown, size of state aid reduction is surprise
• Complete coverage of the 2010 New Jersey State Budget
• Complete coverage of Gov. Chris Christie gaming industries overhaul