Quinnipiac’s latest survey refutes an argument that few, if any, were making: that adding Chris Christie to a Romney ticket would put New Jersey in the GOP pile.
With Gov. Christopher Christie as his running mate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, the GOP front-runner, cuts into President Barack Obama’s lead in New Jersey, but still falls short, trailing 49 – 43 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
Without Gov. Christie, Romney trails President Obama 49 – 39 percent, the independent Quinnipiac University poll finds.
New Jersey voters support 56 – 33 percent Christie’s proposed 10 percent tax cut. Support is 83 – 11 percent among Republicans and 54 – 34 percent among independent voters. Democrats are opposed 51 – 38 percent. Support for the tax cut rises with household income.
Voters also say 55 – 31 percent the tax cut is fair to people like them. Democrats say unfair 48 – 38 percent.
“Gov. Christopher Christie says he’d be a terrible vice-president and we may never find out. Putting him on the ticket helps the Republicans a little, but not enough, in New Jersey. If the measure of a vice presidential pick is carrying his or her home state, then Gov. Christie comes up short,” said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
“But voters continue to give the Gov good marks on how he’s doing his job in Trenton.
New Jersey voters approve 55 – 38 percent of the job Christie is doing as governor, compared to his all-time high of 58 – 38 percent October 12.
New Jersey voters approve 51 – 45 percent of the job Obama is doing, his best score in eight months, and say 51 – 44 percent he deserves four more years in the White House, also his best score so far.