Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J., secured his popularity among Republicans nationally in 2010 by pushing through tough fiscal measures at home.
Christie scored a distant second place at 14 percent last Friday in CPAC Chicago’s vice presidential straw poll.
A new poll shows that New Jersey voters’ feelings toward their own governor may finally be warming.
Christie scored a favorability rating of 50 percent, his highest since taking office, in a Rutgers-Eagleton Poll released Tuesday, June 12.
His favorability is widening and deepening among demographic groups to its current all-time high, which is likely to help the freshman governor should he seek reelection in 2013.
“After some weakening between November and March, Gov. Christie’s favorability rating has rebounded to as positive as we’ve seen,” according to Poll Director David Redlawsk. Voters with an unfavorable opinion of Christie declined to 39 percent.
Overall, the Republican governor’s favorability rating increased four percentage points to 50 percent since late March. According to the poll, male voters are primarily responsible for the boost, increasing to 56 percent from 49 percent of men viewing the governor favorably. Women increased to 45 percent from 43 percent in late March.
Among independent voters, positive feelings toward Christie increased 12 percentage points to 55 percent. The poll also finds Christie’s favorability rating increased among both the least educated voters and voters with college degrees by 10 points, as well as for voters under 30 years old.
