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Poll Shows Voters See Gov. Christie As Strong But Arrogant Leader

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (AP) -- More people are describing Gov. Chris Christie as arrogant or self-centered, a new poll finds. But a majority also describe him as smart and a strong leader.

The Rutgers-Eagleton poll released Friday finds voters are more likely than they were six months ago to ascribe negative traits to the governor. Fifty-six percent say he's arrogant, a jump of 15 points. Sixty-two percent say he's stubborn, a jump of 12 points.

Half of those polled described Christie as a strong leader, independent and smart.

Christie's favorable rating is at 46 percent, basically unchanged from six months ago. Forty-two percent feel unfavorably toward him.

"We continue to find a gender gap in support of the governor. Women are much less supportive. It turns out that underlying that gender gap is that women are much more likely to ascribe the negative trait words. They're no less likely to say the positive words than are men, but they're more likely to say the negative words and they're also more likely than men to express anger and worry about the governor," poll director David Redlawsk told WCBS 880.

The poll surveyed 601 adults from March 21 to March 27 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.3 percentage points.

Do you agree with the poll? Sound off in our comments section below...

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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