N.J. Senate's top Democrat expects Chris Christie's popularity to drop

[ProSense]

N.J. Senate's top Democrat expects Chris Christie's popularity to drop

TRENTON — The state Senate’s top Democrat said today he thinks Gov. Chris Christie’s still-healthy poll numbers will tumble as the George Washington Bridge scandal develops.

“I think you’ll see those numbers going down as people start to focus more on what’s going on,” Sweeney told WNYC’s Brian Lehrer today. “I think those numbers are not going to stay where they’re at.”

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Asked if the Legislature could impeach Christie over the scandal, Sweeney — who has been quieter about the incident than other Democratic leaders — left open the possibility.

“If there’s a direct connection that the governor had knowledge or the governor was directing it, well then obviously that would cause it,” Sweeney said. “But, Brian, we have not gotten there yet.”

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/01/senates_top_democrat_expects_chris_christies_popularity_to_drop.html

What’s next in the Christie probe: Head of N.J. Assembly committee talks to Salon
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024334220

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New Jersey voters approve 55 - 38 percent of the job Gov. Christie is doing, down from his all-time high 74 - 22 percent February 20, 2013. Women approve 55 - 37 percent while men approve 54 - 39 percent. Approval among Democrats drops from 56 - 38 percent last February to a negative 36 - 55 percent today.

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Some 93 percent of all New Jersey voters have read or heard something about the controversy surrounding the September traffic jam on the George Washington Bridge.

Voters in that group say 66 - 22 that the governor did not personally order the traffic jam. Even Democrats say 53 - 32 percent that Christie was not involved.

Among voters who know of Bridgegate, 41 percent say Christie knew what his aides were doing while 50 percent say these aides acted without the governor's knowledge.

- more -

http://www.quinnipiac.edu/institutes-and-centers/polling-institute/new-jersey/release-detail?ReleaseID=1995

13. (If heard or read q7) What should happen to Christie if it is proven that he ordered the traffic jam or knew what his aides were doing: he should apologize, he should be removed from office, or he should be removed from office and prosecuted on criminal charges?

Total

Apologize 27%
Removed from office 32
Removed/Prosecuted 33

Removed from office or Removed/Prosecuted

Total 55 percent
Republicans: 50 percent
Democrats: 77 percent
Independents: 63 percent

Summary: If Christie knew, 55 percent say he should be "removed from office" or "removed/prosecuted"

[onehandle]

1. Christie is praying for another hurricane right now. nt

[ProSense]

2. Sweeney

seems like he's trying to cut the cord.

NJ Democrat Swears He Didn't Mean To Fist Bump With Christie
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/christie-sweeney-fist-bump

[JustAnotherGen]

3. Too Little Too Late

Mr. Sweeney

[ProSense]

4. The media is doing it's best to push

poll headlines. The TPM headline is based on MSNBC's reporting on the poll.

Poll: Bridge Scandal Hasn't Changed Public Opinion Of Christie

The NBC News/Marist poll found that 69 percent of those surveyed said their opinion of Christie hasn't changed. Just 18 percent said they like Christie less because of the scandal while 5 percent said they like him more.

The poll also found that 44 percent of those surveyed believe Christie is telling the truth about the scandal while just 33 percent said he is not. Twenty-three percent said they were unsure.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/poll-bridge-scandal-hasn-t-changed-opinions-of-christie

It's not as deep a poll as the one in the OP, and it's all about his viability as a 2016 contender.

Still, 33 percent don't believe he's telling the truth, and 18 percent said they like him less. That's a change.

MSNBC:

Despite those numbers, Christie has lost ground to Hillary Clinton in an early hypothetical presidential match up. In this current poll, he trails Clinton by 13 points, 50 percent to 37 percent among nationwide voters.

But in the same poll a month ago, Clinton’s lead was a mere three points, 48 percent to 45 percent.

http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2014/01/15/22316680-poll-christie-cruising-through-bridge-scandal-so-far

Now, how does that square with this headline: "Poll: Christie cruising through bridge scandal (so far)"

The fact is that they're trying to downplay the scandal to push Chrisitie, and this investigation is just getting underway.

Lawmakers Hire Ex-Blagojevich Prosecutor To Investigate Bridge Scandal
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024335740