Jersey Prefers Clinton, Bush or Walker over Christie for President in 2016

Christie’s poll numbers stink

New Jerseyans would rather see former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush or Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker elected president in 2016 than their own Governor Chris Christie, according to a Monmouth University Poll released this morning.

“The message from New Jersey voters seems to be as simple as ABC – anybody but Christie,” said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute.

In fairness to Christie, it should be noted that Murray did not poll the Governor’s presidential bona fides against former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, Congressman Frank Pallone, Marlboro Mayor Jon Hornik, Freeholder John Curley, Monmouth Democratic Chairman Vin Gopal or Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

Christie isn’t even New Jersey Republicans first choice to the president. By 44%-30% New Jersey Republicans prefer Walker to Christie in 2016.

New Jersey’s Republican money maybe following Lawrence Bathgate and Senator Joe Kyrillos to Jeb Bush, but so far rank and file Jersey Republicans still prefer Christie over Bush by 47%-34%. But Jersey Democrats and Independents, who came out for Christie’s 2013 reelection, wipe away the only silver lining in this poll for Christie. Overall, Jersey prefers Bush to Christie by 40%-29%. 42%-29% among registered voters.

Clinton beats Christie by the widest margin of the poll. By 53%-29% New Jerseyans would rather Clinton be president. Only 68% of Republicans support Christie over Clinton.

New Jersey’s opinion of Christie’s disposition has plunged 30 points since the Monmouth Poll in February when by a 52%-44% spread we said he does not have the temperament to be president. In today’s poll release, 67% say Christie does not have the temperament to be president while 29% says he does. 54% of Jersey Republicans agree that Christie’s constitution is not presidential.

Christie says he can walk and chew gum at the same time. He probably can. But New Jersey residents don’t think he can run for president and do the job he was elected to do at the same time. 70%, including 54% of Republicans, think Christie is more concerned with his own political future than he is with governing New Jersey. Only 16% think governing New Jersey is Christie’s highest priority.

Only 6% of New Jersey voters believe Christie has a decent shot to become president.