Quinnipiac Poll: New Jersey Voters Approve Of Christie More Than Obama, Menendez or Booker

New Jersey Voters Disapprove of the State Legislature, 36-48%

By Art Gallagher, [email protected]

Governor Chris Christie at Belmar Town Hall. photo by Art Gallagher

A Quinnipiac Poll released this morning indicates that, despite the beating he has been taking in the local and national media since January, Governor Chris Christie has higher approval ratings than President Barack Obama, Senator Bob Menendez and Senator Cory Booker, among New Jersey voters.

Quinnipiac didn’t spin the poll that way in their narrative, but that is what the numbers indicate.  Most of the media coverage about this poll will be negative for Christie. Too many reporters and editors read the spin and not the numbers.

There is bad news for Christie in this poll.  His approval rating has dropped to 49-44% since January when it was 55-38%.

82% of Republicans and 54% of Independents approve of Christie’s job performance. Only 23% of Democrats give the Guv love.

The Governor’s bully rating is higher than ever before. Voters are now evenly split 48-48 on whether he’s a leader or a bully. In January they said he was more of a leader by 54-40 margin.

56% of voters think the Mastro Report, the internal investigation commissioned by the Governor’s Office that exonerated Christie from any involvement in the Bridgegate scandal was a “whitewash.”  Voters are split 46-46 over whether the legislative investigation into Bridgegate lead by Assemblyman John Wisniewski and Senator Loretta Weinberg is a legitimate investigation or a political witch-hunt.

Voters have a net negative impression of the State Legislature that crosses all party lines. Republicans disapprove of legislature 40-45, Democrats 40-43 and Independents 33-53.  The Legislature’s overall approval numbers are negative 36-48.

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Menendez calls for hearings into post-Sandy flood insurance ‘low-balling’

Menendez calls for hearings into post-Sandy flood insurance ‘low-balling’ (via NJ.com)

MIDDLETOWN – Constituents have told Sen. Robert Menendez that the National Flood Insurance Program is feast or famine – high premiums feast on Jersey Shore residents, while low payouts force tough decisions on homeowners affected by Hurricane Sandy…

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Bob Menendez is banned from Russia

Bob Menendez is banned from Russia (via NJ.com)

Hopefully, U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez had no plans to summer in Moscow this year as he’s been banned from Russia. Menendez was one of six federal lawmakers who along with a number of advisors to President Obama, were banned from Russia in retaliation for…

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Menendez Rebuts Christie Over Blame for Stalled Sandy Relief Aid

Menendez Rebuts Christie Over Blame for Stalled Sandy Relief Aid (via NJSpotlight)

Who is to blame for the slow pace of New Jersey’s recovery from superstorm Sandy? Gov. Chris Christie blames federal red tape and regulations for holding up the distribution of aid money to storm victims in New Jersey. But New Jersey’s senior U.S.…

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Menendez discloses another flight from donor, racks up $360k in legal bills

Menendez discloses another flight from donor, racks up $360k in legal bills (via NJ.com)

NEWARK — Sen. Robert Menendez accepted a third flight on the private plane of a wealthy campaign donor now under federal investigation that he did not disclose until several years later, something the senator’s office called an “oversight.” The powerful…

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Robert Menendez says he’s fighting a smear campaign against ‘ridiculous’ allegations

Robert Menendez says he’s fighting a smear campaign against ‘ridiculous’ allegations (via NJ.com)

JERSEY CITY — Saying he was the target of a yearlong “false smear campaign,” U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez yesterday blasted a television news report that said he allegedly used his office to help campaign contributors. At events in his native Hudson…

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NBC 4 NY: New, expanding criminal investigation into Menendez

FEDERAL PROBE INTO MENENDEZ IS WIDENING

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Menendez to urge Congress to delay increases in flood insurance premiums

Menendez to urge Congress to delay increases in flood insurance premiums (via NJ.com)

BRICK — Though Peggy Molloy’s home in Point Pleasant Borough did not sustain water damage during Hurricane Sandy, she said a looming increase in flood insurance rates may force her to walk away. The 56-year-old resident said she faces paying premiums…

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Menendez is engaged to be married

Alicia Mucci, photo via facebook

U.S. Senator Bob Menendez is engaged to be married to a former bartender he met at a political fundraiser, according to multiple media reports.

Menendez, 59, popped the question to Alicia Mucci, 45 of Paramus, yesterday afternoon in the Capitol Rotunda before heading to the White House for the annual congressional holiday ball and then out to dinner with friends.

Mucci is the widow of restaurateur Robert Mucci who died in May of 2012.   Menedez is a divorced father of two, including a daughter named Alicia.  The happy couple has been dating for over a year, according to the senator’s spokeswoman.

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Watchdog group puts Menendez, Andrews on ‘most corrupt’ list

Watchdog group puts Menendez, Andrews on ‘most corrupt’ list (via NJ.com)

TRENTON — U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez has joined the list of the nation’s 13 “most corrupt” members of Congress, according to a report issued today by a watchdog organization, making New Jersey home to two lawmakers with ethical clouds hanging over…

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