Poll: Christie Lacks Support In New Jersey For Presidential Run
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has been making more and more appearances out of state as speculation grows that he is planning to launch a bid for the White House. But a new poll says most voters in his own state don't believe he's presidential material.
A Monmouth University Poll released Wednesday found that in a hypothetical matchup, Christie trails Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton 53 percent to 30 percent among New Jersey voters. Garden State voters also said they believe former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, both Republicans, would make better presidents than Christie.
MORE: Read The Complete Poll Results
The views on Christie have taken a hit over the past three months, when the poll found that Christie and Bush were in a dead heat and the New Jersey governor held an eight-point advantage over Walker.
"The message from New Jersey voters seems to be as simple as ABC -- anybody but Christie," said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute.
New Jersey Republicans prefer Christie over Bush, but not over Walker.
Two-thirds of those surveyed said they don't believe Christie has the right temperment to lead the country, and 47 percent said they think their governor hurts New Jersey's image around the country.
Only one in four New Jerseyans gave Christie a decent shot at winning the GOP nomination -- and only 7 percent believe he can win the general election.
Seventy percent of Garden State voters said they think Christie is more concerned with his own political future than with governing the state.
"The state's presidential preferences may stem from public resentment that governing New Jersey has become an afterthought for Christie," said Murray.
