Christie more leader than bully, N.J. voters tell Quinnipiac

A new Quinnipiac University poll shows a majority of New Jersey voters approve of the job Gov. Chris Christie is doing even after the disclosure that one of his top aides was involved with the lane closures on the George Washington Bridge.

While it’s down from the all-time high of 74 percent a year ago, 55 percent of voters still gave Christie a positive job approval rating. More voters consider him a leader than a bully.

“The numbers don’t surprise me in that, unless you live in Fort Lee, this is just sort of interesting. It didn’t really cause any trouble,” said Maurice Carroll, poll director. “It plays to the bully image, but it’s not a very big deal.”

Just about half of the voters surveyed said the bridge scandal damaged Christie’s chances as a 2016 presidential contender, but 38 percent say it will have no impact.

“They still think he’s way ahead in the Republican field so we’ll have to see. If all that redacted stuff turns out to say, ‘We told the governor, and he said go at them,’ something like that … zip, he’s toast,” Carroll said.

If it turns out that Christie ordered the traffic jam or knew what his aides were doing, a third of those polled said he should be removed from office and prosecuted on criminal charges.