Republican Chris Christie commands 10 point lead in N.J. Gov race

By: Phil Gregory

A Quinnipiac University poll shows Republican Chris Christie with a 10 point lead over New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine. The former U-S Attorney has an even bigger lead 24 percent among independent voters. But the November election is still a long way off.

By: Phil Gregory
pgregory@wbgo.org

A Quinnipiac University poll shows Republican Chris Christie with a 10 point lead over New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine. The former U.S. Attorney has an even bigger lead 24 percent among independent voters. But the November election is still a long way off.

Listen:
[audio: 090610pgpoll.mp3]

Analysts say many New Jersey residents really are not focused on the Governer’s race now and the numbers could change significantly before election day in November.

The poll showed New Jersey voters are most concerned about taxes and the economy.

John Weingart is the Associate Director of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University. He says both candidates will have challenges to structure a winning campaign.

Weingart: We’re in such difficult economic times that there really isn’t a script for either of them in terms of the policy proposals, the general direction of them as well as the level of detail, that would be effective for addressing the state’s problems and resonate with the voters.

Weingart says Christie may have gotten a bounce from his primary win and the poll confirms that it will be a highly competitive race that either candidate can win.