Poll: NJ Voters Less Happy With Christie’s Sandy Handling

Controversy over the way Sandy relief funds have been handled and the ongoing Bridgegate scandal are taking a toll on Gov. Chris Christie's approval numbers according to a new Rutgers-Eagleton poll.

The governor’s approval numbers for dealing with Superstorm Sandy recovery and rebuilding efforts are still good, but they are a far cry from where they were last November.  Fifty-four percent of Garden State voters approve of the way Christie is handling recovery efforts. In November that number stood at 80 percent.

“We’re seeing a real impact from recent claims involving withheld Sandy aid as political payback, as well as accusations of uneven and inappropriate distribution of recovery funds,” wrote David Redlawsk, director of the Rutgers-Eagleton Poll and professor of political science at Rutgers University in an emailed press release. “This could have a more significant long-term impact than the Fort Lee lane closing scandal that opened Christie’s second term.”

Despite the drop in his Sandy handling numbers, Christie still enjoys a solid approval rating and a plurality of voters still like him. Fifty-five percent approve of the job the governor is doing while 39 percent disapprove. These numbers are pretty much unchanged from late January. Voters give Christie a 49 percent likeability rating while 40 percent have an unfavorable view.