Raleigh, N.C. – The national press has given Chris Christie a lot of flak for not abandoning his family vacation in Disney World during the recent snow storm, but apparently his constituents are not so mad at him, with a near majority thinking he made the right choice. Voters are much more divided, however, on his handling of the blizzard and his overall job record. And if he were to be challenged for re-election by popular Newark Mayor Cory Booker in 2013, it would be a dead-even race.
49% say they think Christie should have remained, as he did, in Florida, while 39% think he should have returned home instead. 53% of Democrats think he should have come back, but 34% go the other way, and the numbers with independents are reversed, 53-36 in favor of Disney World. Predictably, Republicans strongly back their governor, 68-21.
Christie has an overall 48-45 approval rating, not bad in a pretty heavily Democratic state. But voters are a little more tenuous on how he handled the storm than on his overall job performance or on the question of his travel plans. 43% approve of how he has performed in this weather crisis, but 44% disapprove. Democrats are actually less down on him for the snow cleanup than they are overall, but Republicans and independents are less willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Unaffiliated voters back him overall, 55-39, but only 44-42 on the snow response.
Christie and Booker are currently tied at 42% apiece. The main reason Booker does not enjoy a healthy lead in this blue state is that three times as many Democrats are undecided as Republicans. 83% of the GOP is behind Christie, but only 68% of Democrats have decided for Booker. They each take about 10% of the opposite party, and Christie enjoys a 46-37 lead with independents. Booker, though still unknown to 38% of the state despite a now national profile, has a strong 46-16 favorability rating. Even Republicans like him, 36-21.
“Christie staying at Disney World is not going to have any long term impact on his political fortunes,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “But the truth remains that he was elected largely because of Jon Corzine’s unpopularity and he could have a lot more trouble against someone well liked such as Booker.”
PPP surveyed 520 New Jersey voters from January 6th to 9th. The survey’s margin of error is +/-4.3%. Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may introduce additional error that is more difficult to quantify.
Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.
Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of Governor
Chris Christie’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 48%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 45%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 7%
Q2 Do you approve or disapprove of how Chris
Christie handled the recent snow storm in the
state?
Approve …………………………………………………. 43%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 44%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 13%
Q3 During the recent snow storm do you think
Chris Christie should have returned to New
Jersey from his vacation at Disney World,
stayed at Disney World, or are you not sure?
Should have returned from vacation …………… 39%
Should have stayed in Disney World ………….. 49%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 12%
Q4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Cory Booker?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 46%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 16%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 38%
Q5 If the candidates for Governor in 2013 were
Democrat Cory Booker and Republican Chris
Christie, who would you vote for?
Cory Booker……………………………………………. 42%
Chris Christie ………………………………………….. 42%
Undecided………………………………………………. 16%
Q6 Would you describe yourself as a liberal,
moderate, or conservative?
Liberal ……………………………………………………. 18%
Moderate………………………………………………… 48%
Conservative…………………………………………… 34%
Q7 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 53%
Man……………………………………………………….. 47%
Q8 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If a
Republican, press 2. If you are an independent
or identify with another party, press 3.
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 43%
Republican……………………………………………… 29%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 27%
Q9 If you are Hispanic, press 1. If white, press 2.
If African-American, press 3. If other, press 4.
Hispanic…………………………………………………. 10%
White …………………………………………………….. 69%
African-American …………………………………….. 13%
Other……………………………………………………… 8%
Q10 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1. If 30 to
45, press 2. If 46 to 65, press 3. If you are
older than 65, press 4.
18 to 29………………………………………………….. 14%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 28%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 37%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 21%
