Last month Monmouth Democratic Chairman Vin Gopal went on NJTV to make the case that Governor Chris Christie is leading the in the polls so strongly because of how he has handled the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy and because the presumed Democratic nominee for governor, State Senator Barbara Buono is largely unknown.Canada
In the month since Gopal’s interview, Buono’s name recognition has ticked up only 4 points. Only 20% of the electorate know enough about her to form an opinion. Of that 20%, only half have a favorable opinion of her, according to the Quinnipiac Poll. Despite extensive free media granted Buono by New Jersey’s threelargestnewspapers, Christie has high favorable ratings even among registered Democrats.
Partisan control preference of State Legislature narrows
Support for same-sex marriage grows strongly
New Jersey voters’ affections for Governor Chris Christie are not waning, according to a Quinnipiac Poll released this morning.
70% approve of the Christie’s job performance, including 48% of Democrats. 66% think he deserves to be reelected. Democrats narrowly side with reelecting the governor, 44%-43% with 13% unsure or not answering.
The 13% of unsure Democrats may not know who Barbara Buono is. “Corzine’s Budget Chair,” as Christie refers to the presumed Democratic gubernatorial nominee on the stump, is unknown by 79% of the electorate, including 79% of Democrats. Of the 20% who know of Buono, only half view her favorably. Buono’s name recognition ticked up 4 points since Q’s February poll when only half of the then 16% of voters viewed her favorably. If this trend continues through November, Buono will be known by 56% of the voters, 28% of whom will view her unfavorably.
If the election were held today, Christie would win, 60%-25%.
41% think Christie would make a good president. 44% think he would not make a good president. 15% are unsure. 46% would like to see him run for president in 2016, 47% would rather he did not.
On the question of which party should control the State Legislature, the Democrats still win, but the trend has been moving towards the Republican Party since November. Currently 43% favor Democratic control, 42% favor Republican control and 15% are not sure.
Support for same-sex marriage in New Jersey has grown strongly since last May when 53% told Quinnipiac they favored it and 42% opposed it. In today’s poll, 60% favor same-sex marriage and 30% oppose.
Governor Chris Christie told his NJ 101.5 listening audience that the Prince of Wales will keep his clothes on when he visits the Jersey Shore in May.
“I am going to be spending the entire day with Prince Harry,” the governor said, “believe me, no one is going to be getting naked if i am spending the entire day with them. I think I can assure the people of New Jersey that, much to their relief.”
Prince Harry will be visiting the United States May 9-15 to visit survivors of Superstorm Sandy and to promote charities he supports that help injured service men and women in the United States and the UK. In addition to New Jersey, the Prince will visit New York City, Connecticut, Colorado and Washington, DC.
When Harry visited Las Vegas last August, he lost a game of strip billiards. Nude photos of him were leaked to TMZ.
If you missed Christie on Ask the Governor, you can view the show here. The remarks about Harry start at about the 56 minute mark.
There was little talk of bi-partisanship in Colts Neck yesterday morning at the Monmouth Republican Nominating Convention. The Republican nominee for Governor showed up at the Monmouth County Republican Nominating Convention.
Governor Chris Christie brought the crowd of some 400 county committee members and guests to their feet several times as he declared that it is he, and the Republicans who have stood with him “along with some right thinking Democrats,” who have turned Trenton upside down since he was elected in 2009.
Christie acknowledged the impact that the Monmouth GOP had in his 2009 victory over Jon Corzine. “When most people didn’t know me, you gave me a chance. When nobody thought I could win, you did,” Christie told the crowd as he thanked Monmouth for the 64,000 vote pluarity he won in the county in ’09 general election and the first GOP county endorsement he received in the ’09 primary. He specifically thanked former Monmouth Republican Chairman Joe Oxley who is now out of politics after being sworn in as a Superior Court Judge on Friday. “I will miss Joe’s political partnership,” said the governor, “but I know New Jersey will be well served by Joe in his new position, which I had something to do with him getting.”
Governor Chris Christie told a Manasquan Town Hall crowd of approximately 1200* that he expects FEMA will release an expedited set of flood elevation maps in “a few months” that will ease the height requirements from the Advisory Maps published in December, according to The Star Ledger.
Christie said he adopted the recommendations in FEMA’s advisory maps earlier this year for those who need guidelines now on how to rebuild. For those who can wait to rebuild, a new set of maps should be out “in a few more months” that he said will be less “aggressive” in placing homes in flood zones.
“I’m confident the maps are going to change,” he said to a crowd of more than 300 in the Manasquan High School gym. “The only thing I’m not confident about is when.”
* MMM has learned from someone at the Town Hall that the crowd was approximately 1200, not the 300 originally reported by The Star Ledger.
Governor Chris Christie continues to enjoy sky high approval ratings among New Jersey voters and is heavily favored to be reelected in November, according to a Farleigh Dickinson University Public Mind Poll released this morning.
66% of New Jersey voters, including 55% of Democrats and 61% of Independents approve of the governor’s job performance. If the election were held today, Christie would defeat presumptive Democratic nominee Barbara Buono by 58%-22% with 20% unsure. Christie would garner 36% of the Democratic vote.
48% say they like the Christie personally and like his policies. 18% like him, but not his policies. 12% don’t like the man, but like his policies and 17% don’t like him or his policies. 5% are comatose and were awakened by the pollster’s phone call.
Save Jersey is reporting that East Brunswick Mayor David Stahl is endorsing Governor Chris Christie for reelection, leaving the Democratic Party and will run for the State Senate seat being vacated by Barbara Buono. Buono will be the Democratic nominee for governor, unless Carl Bergmanson or Willie Arajuo beat her in the June 4 primary.
Stahl is the third Democratic mayor to endorse Christie’s reelection. He is the first to join the GOP and become a Christie running mate.
Middlesex County Republican Chairman, Senator Sam Thompson told MMM that Stahl has his “100% support.” “I can’t think of anyone better to win Buono’s seat,” said Thompson, “Stahl was reelected in East Brunswick last year by a wider margin that Obama won the town.”
Christie narrowly won the normally Democratic Middlesex County in 2009. Thompson said the GOP will field its strongest legislative ticket in memory in an effort to sweep the 7 districts that represent his county.
Stahl will make his formal announcement tomorrow morning, 10:30 am, at the Colonial Diner on Route 18, according to SaveJersey.
Monmouth County Republican Chairman John Bennett announced this morning that Governor Chris Christie will be on hand to accept the party’s nomination for reelection when the Committee convenes at Colts Neck High School on Saturday, March 23.
In an email to County Committee members, Bennett said that he was hopeful that all members would be able to join him in nomination Christie, Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno and all incumbent legislative and county candidates.
