Some improved numbers for Gov. Chris Christie in New Jersey, and you know what that means . . . time for another round of speculation about him running for president! Okay, no, not really.
New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie would have won, Garden State voters say, but they back his decision not to run for president 8-1. They seem glad to be stuck with him and give him a 58 – 38 percent job approval rating, his best score ever, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. A big swing from women lifts him from a 47 – 46 percent score August 17.
Women approve of Gov. Christie 51 – 44 percent, a 25-point swing from a negative 37 – 55 percent in the August 17 survey by the independent Quinnipiac University. Men approve 65 – 32 percent, compared to 58 – 36 percent in August. Approval is 88 – 11 percent among Republicans and 65 – 30 percent among independent voters, while Democrats disapprove 67 – 29 percent.
New Jersey voters say 84 – 10 percent that Christie made the “right decision” not to run for president with strong agreement among every group and in every region.
But 66 percent of voters, including 76 percent of Republicans, say it is “very likely” or “somewhat likely” that Christie would have won the Republican nomination.
And 56 percent of voters, including 29 percent of Democrats, say it is “very likely” or “somewhat likely” that Christie would have defeated President Barack Obama in 2012.
I’m note quite sure Christie was the slam-dunk in either the primary or the general election that New Jersey voters believe . . . but if the decision bought him a second honeymoon with New Jersey voters, that can only be a good development (albeit probably a brief one) for his reelection prospects.