Quinnipiac Poll: Bridgegate Takes Toll On Christie’s Presidential Poll Numbers

The Bridgegate controversy has had a significant negative effect on national voters opinions of Governor Chris Christie as a potential president, according to a Quinnipiac University Poll released today.

The governor’s net favorable ratings have taken a 26 point hit since the December 11, 2013 Q Poll. Today, American voters have a favorable opinion of Christie by 33%-30% with 34% reserving judgement.  In December, 47% had a favorable opinion of Christie, 23% unfavorable and 28% said they hadn’t heard enough.

With 65% support from Democratic voters, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has no significant competition for the 2016 Democratic nomination for president.

Clinton would beat Christie is the 2016 election were today, by a 46%-38% margin.  In the December poll, Christie edged Clinton by 1 point, 41%-40%.

Christie’s support has weakened with Republicans nationally as well.  In December he lead the crowded field and had a 4 point lead over his closest competitor, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul.  In today’s poll, Christie is in a statistical tie with Paul, Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan and former Florida governor Jeb Bush.

The survey of 1933 registered voters was taken from January 15-19.  Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer’s allegations that the Christie Administration withheld Sandy Relief because he did not push through a development that Christie favored did not become public until the 18th and likely have little impact on today’s poll.

• Tweet

Bridgegate legislative committees on Gov. Chris Christie to combine on investigation

Bridgegate legislative committees on Gov. Chris Christie to combine on investigation (via NJ.com)

The state Senate and Assembly will act as one while investigating the George Washington Bridge controversy. Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) and Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex) will combine the two existing special investigative…

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Christie’s Swearing In and Second Inaugural Address — Live Feed

Courtesy of NJTV. Broadcast starts at 11:30 am

• Tweet

Ellis Island Inaugural Celebration Cancelled Due To Weather

Governor Chris Christie’s press office has announced that the Inaugural celebration scheduled for tonight at Ellis Island has been cancelled due to anticipated severe winter weather.

• Tweet

Christie Will Call For Smaller Government, Opportunity and Unity In Inaugural Address

“Our dreams are the same: a good job, a great education for our children, safe streets in our neighborhood and core values which give our lives real meaning. Those dreams are not unique to any one group in our state. “

Governor Chris Christie has released the following excerpts of his second Inaugural Address:

“The people of this state know that the only way forward is if we are all willing to take on what is politically unpopular. If we are all willing to share in the sacrifice. If we are all willing to be in this together…

 

“I do not believe that New Jerseyans want a bigger, more expensive government that penalizes success and then gives the pittance left to a few in the name of income equity. What New Jerseyans want is an unfettered opportunity to succeed in the way they define success. They want an equal chance at the starting; not a government guaranteed result.

 

“Why? Because through hard work, and being rewarded for hard work, they know they are part of their own success.

 

“We should make sure that government pursues policies that believe in the effort, talent and optimism of New Jerseyans, not in the power of almighty government to fix any problem, real or imagined.”

 

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Top Christie official calls Hoboken mayor’s storm funding claims ‘absurd’

Top Christie official calls Hoboken mayor’s storm funding claims ‘absurd’ (via NJ.com)

One of the top Christie administration officials that Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer has accused of threatening to withhold storm aid if she didn’t push forward a redevelopment project called her allegations “patently false and absurd on their face.” In…

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Guadagno Denies Zimmer’s Allegations

This morning in Union Beach, Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno strongly denied Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer’s allegations that Sandy relief funds for the city were contingent upon the approval of a proposed Rockefeller Group development.  Zimmer made her allegations Saturday morning on MSNBC’s Up with Steve Kornacki.

Speaking at the Union Beach Firehouse on Poole Ave, at an event commemorating Martin Luther King Jr Day, Guadagno prefaced her remarks by saying she would not be taking  questions at the end of her statement. “As you know, there are ongoing investigations. I’m sure all the fact will come out at the appropriate time.”

Guadagno said:

“Mayor Zimmer’s version of our conversation in May or 2013 is not only false, but is illogical and does not withstand scrutiny when all of the facts are examined.  Any suggestion that Sandy funds were tied to the approval of any project in New Jersey is completely false.

Standing in Union Beach, as we are today, with some of the mayors whose towns were devastated by Sandy, and also, being a Sandy victim myself, makes the mayor’s allegations particularly offensive to me.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Hornik making the rounds, “not actively running for governor”

Just as we predicted at the start of the year, Marlboro Mayor Jonathan Hornik has started his tour of Democratic clubs and committees around the state, not running for governor.

The Star Ledger’s Auditor reports that Hornik spoke to the Warren County Democratic Committee last week, has met with several Democratic County Chairs and plans many other such meetings, not running for governor.

• Tweet

Monmouth Mayors Cast Doubt On Zimmer’s Quid Pro Quo Claims

Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer on MSNBC’s Up with Steve Kornacki, January 18, 2014

Monmouth County mayors and other municipal officials are reacting to Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer’s allegations that her city is not receiving Sandy Relief funds because she hasn’t pushed through a redevelopment approval coveted by Governor Chris Christie with a high degree of skepticism, because their storm ravaged communities have yet to see significant money yet either.

One elected official who asked not to be quoted said, “If Hoboken had approved that Rockefeller project, Zimmer would still be standing on her head at a Hoboken street corner looking for her Sandy money. The money hasn’t started to flow yet.”

“Is it believable that Guadagno (Lt. Governor Kim Guadango) or Constable (DCA Commissioner Richard Constable) encouraged Zimmer to expedite an project? Yes.  As a quid pro quo for Sandy dollars? No way,” another official said.

Zimmer alleged on MSNBC’s Up with Steve Kornacki this morning that Guadagno pulled her aside at a Hoboken ribbon cutting and warned that Sandy Relief money to Hoboken was contingent on a development application by the Rockefeller Group being approved by the city. Zimmer said that Constable told her at a Monmouth University symposium on Sandy recovery that relief dollars would flow if the Rockefeller application was approved.

After talking to local and state officials today, MMM understands that the federal money for Sandy Relief is flowing dripping through four sources; FEMA, the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) which administers relief for homeowners, the New Jersey Economic Development Agency(EDA) and County Governments which are administering Hazard Mitigation Grants.  The Hazard Mitigation Grants are funded by FEMA and distributed to the counties by the State Office of Emergency Management.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Hoboken Mayor Charges That Christie Administration Held Sandy Relief Hostage

Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno and DCA Commissioner Richard Constable fingered by Zimmer

Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer told MSNBC’s Steve Kornacki this morning that Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno and Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Richard Constable threatened to deprive Hoboken of Sandy Relief funds if she did not secure a development approval for for a project favored by Governor Chris Christie.

The Rockefeller Group project hasn’t been approved and Hoboken has only gotten a small fraction of the Sandy Relief it requested. Port Authority Chairman David Samson’s law firm, Wolf and Samson, represents the Rockefeller Group.

Zimmer requested $127 million in aide for Hoboken, 80% of which was underwater after the Superstorm hit in October of 2012.  The city has received $142,000 for a back up generator and $200,000 in recovery grants.

On Karnack’s show, UP with Steve Kornacki, Zimmer said she should have come forth sooner.

The governor’s office has denied the claims. Spokesperson Michael Drewniak issued the following statement to MSNBC:

“Mayor Zimmer has been effusive in her public praise of the Governor’s Office and the assistance we’ve provided in terms of economic development and Sandy aid,” Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak wrote in a statement. “What or who is driving her only now to say such outlandishly false things is anyone’s guess.”

A Hudson County Jury apparently did not believe Zimmer’s testimony last month when they awarded Hoboken’s former public safety director $440,000 in a  discrimination suit . The jury held the City, not Zimmer, accountable for the discrimination.

Zimmer showed Korancki documents and her diaries to back up the explosive claims she made this morning. She said she would be willing to testify under oath.

• Tweet