Christie’s Republican support ebbing — in New Jersey

As he considers whether to run for president, Gov. Chris Christie should not take Republicans in the Garden State for granted. That’s advice distilled from results of a new Monmouth University poll.

Two-thirds of the registered New Jersey voters surveyed said they believe Christie is more concerned with his own political future than with governing the state.

Poll director Patrick Murray says the increase in voter skepticism is coming mainly from Republicans.

“Back in September, 54 percent of Republicans in New Jersey said Chris Christie was more focused on the state than his own political future,” Murray said. “Now that’s reversed — 54 percent say it’s Christie’s ambitions that are his paramount concern.”

When Christie is pitted against Jeb Bush, 37 percent of Republican voters in New Jersey would prefer Bush as president, the poll found.

That should be a warning sign to Christie, Murray said.

“I think the fact that Christie does not have the overwhelming broad based support of Republicans in his own state should be a real warning sign to him as he tries to get that kind of support in other places,” he said.