Ex-U.S. Attorney Chris Christie isn’t getting much traction with likely voters in New Jersey’s upcoming Republican gubernatorial primary by touting his crime-fighting biography, a new poll finds. According to CQ Politics, a poll by Quinnipiac University Polling Institute last week contained some worrisome information for the Republican establishment candidate, who’s running against anti-tax conservative Steve Lonegan.
To wit:
- Fewer than half of likely voters surveyed knew that Christie put more than 100 corrupt New Jersey politicians in jail or out of office as U.S. Attorney.
- The 44 percent who were aware is the same percentage who knew Christie’s bio six weeks ago — meaning the campaign hasn’t been able to communicate his record effectively.
- Only 46 percent of likely voters said a background as a federal prosecutor gives Christie the right experience to be governor.
Christie also came under attack by the American Civil Liberties Union recently; the ACLU claims he tracked suspects’ cell phones without obtaining proper warrants. Christie denied that he’d bended any laws.
New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine, a Democrat, is considered vulnerable because of the economy and his now slightly disreputable resume as a former head of Goldman Sachs.
