Depends on Whom You Ask, Mr. Popularity or Mr. Not Really That Hot!

Dateline: March 8, 2011

While Chris Christie's concerted effort to get his name out seems to be working. Although a virtual unknown little over a one year ago, now more and more Americans feel he could be an up and coming Republican leader, perhaps capable of higher office.

   However, two stories today indicate that the more you know about him, perhaps the less you like all that Christie really has to offer.

    First, consider this piece of video, from The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell. As you will see in the piece, Howard Fineman begins with footage of a statement from last year's “next big thing,” Sarah Palin, as she attempts to boost her own (limited) gubernatorial achievements while criticizing Christie:

Okay, so Christie comes off better than Palin, right? Not so fast, buster. How about this story from the Newark Star Ledger, in Christie's home state of New Jersey:

New Jersey Voters, That Same Week

     Voters are split on whether they have a favorable or unfavorable impression of Christie, with 46 percent viewing him favorably and 44 percent unfavorably. That’s down significantly from December, when 49 percent of voters saw Christie favorably and 39 percent had an unfavorable impression.

   “While some polls showed Gov. Christie’s support increasing before the budget speech, reaction to the budget itself is mixed, which appears to be reflected in a decline in his post-speech favorability and job performance ratings,” said poll director David Redlawsk.

      Forty-eight percent of voters said they are displeased with the govenror’s proposed budget, while 45 percent said they are pleased.

     When asked to rate Christie’s job performance, 14 percent said excellent, 28 percent said good, 30 percent said fair and 26 percent said poor. 

     Fourteen percent graded him with an A, 24 percent gave him a B, 26 percent gave him a C, 15 percent gave him a D and 19 percent failed him with an F.

      President Obama fares better than Christie among Garden State voters, with 57 percent viewing him favorably to 36 percent unfavorably.