Poll: Chris Christie Approval Rating Hits New Low
TEANECK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's approval rating is at its lowest level ever recorded by a Fairleigh Dickinson PublicMind poll.
The survey released Tuesday shows 51 percent of registered voters who were questioned disapprove of the job Christie is doing, compared to 35 percent who approve.
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The poll came days after Christie delivered his budget address to the Legislature in which he called for pension and public employee benefit reforms.
Pollster Krista Jenkins said Christie's bid to hit the reset button on the gaping pension hole did little to ease public concerns.
Jenkins said the numbers don't necessarily mean Christie will struggle if he decides to run for president.
"If he ends up being defined by his record, then I think these numbers will make an already difficult journey harder," she told WCBS 880. "If, however, he is able to define himself to Republicans nationally through his accomplishments -- like tenure and pension reform among teachers and also winning re-election not that long ago with support from key demographics as a Republican in a Democratic state -- then I think the next year could be better for the governor."
Jenkins added that Christie also has plenty of time to define himself to moderate voters.
About a third of those polled believe the state is headed in the right direction, while 52 percent said it's on the wrong track.
The survey of 790 registered voters has a sampling error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
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