2009 New Jersey Governor's Race

[Sewer]

A great day for humankind, indeed.

Unless you're gay. Or a teacher. Or a woman.

Or poor

[Eraserhead]

This guy should have pretty hilarious approvals a year from now.

[Psychic Octopus]

A great day for humankind, indeed.

Unless you're gay. Or a teacher. Or a woman.

I'm sorry. I just hate corruption, I sympathize with your concerns.

[Verily]

A great day for humankind, indeed.

Unless you're gay. Or a teacher. Or a woman.

I'm sorry. I just hate corruption, I sympathize with your concerns.

Corzine was many negative things, but he was not corrupt. At least, not any more than Christie. People seem to have difficulty understanding that the NJ Dems and GOP are equally extremely steeped in corruption, and one does not have credentials over the other. Corzine, as a political outsider, had some ability to fight corruption, although limited by the strength of the Democratic machine (and would have been equally limited by the Republicans had they controlled the legislature during his tenure). That he was not corrupt should be blatantly obvious from his choice of Loretta Weinberg as LG candidate, the foremost anti-corruption politician in NJ.

[Psychic Octopus]

A great day for humankind, indeed.

Unless you're gay. Or a teacher. Or a woman.

I'm sorry. I just hate corruption, I sympathize with your concerns.

Corzine was many negative things, but he was not corrupt. At least, not any more than Christie. People seem to have difficulty understanding that the NJ Dems and GOP are equally extremely steeped in corruption, and one does not have credentials over the other. Corzine, as a political outsider, had some ability to fight corruption, although limited by the strength of the Democratic machine (and would have been equally limited by the Republicans had they controlled the legislature during his tenure). That he was not corrupt should be blatantly obvious from his choice of Loretta Weinberg as LG candidate, the foremost anti-corruption politician in NJ.

True, but I just think Chris Christie is an outsider who can (hopefully) fix things. He'll probably have low approvals soon, though.

[Lief 🗽]

This guy should have pretty hilarious approvals a year from now.

Yup. Safe Cory Booker in 2013.

[Psychic Octopus]

This guy should have pretty hilarious approvals a year from now.

Yup. Safe Cory Booker in 2013.

Yeah.

[Bo]

That he was not corrupt should be blatantly obvious from his choice of Loretta Weinberg as LG candidate, the foremost anti-corruption politician in NJ.

Corzine did that just to get more votes. I don't think he had any special affinity for Weinberg.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

This guy should have pretty hilarious approvals a year from now.

Two months down, ten to go:

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Which is no small feat, considering he's already dropped a few controversial budgetary bombshells.

[Obnoxiously Slutty Girly Girl]

This guy should have pretty hilarious approvals a year from now.

Yup. Safe Cory Booker in 2013.

Nope.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

This guy should have pretty hilarious approvals a year from now.

Two months down, ten to go:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Which is no small feat, considering he's already dropped a few controversial budgetary bombshells.

Its the fact that he is take a strong position early and for the right reasons. In this environment we might see some traditionally expected patterns to change. Another thing is instead of getting rewarded for bringing home the bacon pols are getting hammered. Far too early but it will be interesting to follow.

[Eraserhead]

This guy should have pretty hilarious approvals a year from now.

Two months down, ten to go:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Which is no small feat, considering he's already dropped a few controversial budgetary bombshells.

Ten lifetimes in politics.

[Rowan]

"Gov. Chris Christie’s voter approval slipped noticeably from earlier in the month, but he remains ahead, 43% approving to 32% disapproving of the job he’s doing, according to the most recent poll by Fairleigh Dickinson University’s PublicMind™. The governor started March with a 52%-21% approval rating before making dramatic announcements of cuts to the state budget. Better than two-thirds of Republicans approve of the job he’s doing, and independents approve by 49%-19%, while Democrats disapprove by 45%-23%. The governor runs ahead in non-public-employee households by 44%-28% and runs behind in public-employee households 37%-49%."

http://publicmind.fdu.edu/slips/

I am stunned right now that he has a positive approval after that budget.

[Eraserhead]

Wow, sinking even faster than I thought...

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Wow, sinking even faster than I thought...

You thought he'd be able to hold on to 52%-21% for an appreciable length of time?

[Eraserhead]

Wow, sinking even faster than I thought...

You thought he'd be able to hold on to 52%-21% for an appreciable length of time?

Don't be sad because you are now realizing that he is going to have pretty awful approvals less than a year from now.

[fezzyfestoon]

Wow, sinking even faster than I thought...

Uh...the expectations were much worse.  Do you really think after revealing that budget any Governor in the country would have approvals as high as Christie?

This guy should have pretty hilarious approvals a year from now.

Yup. Safe Cory Booker in 2013.

Yeah.

No.  Cory Booker is NOT running for Governor.

[You kip if you want to...]

Wow, sinking even faster than I thought...

Uh...the expectations were much worse.  Do you really think after revealing that budget any Governor in the country would have approvals as high as Christie?

This guy should have pretty hilarious approvals a year from now.

Yup. Safe Cory Booker in 2013.

Yeah.

No.  Cory Booker is NOT running for Governor.

What makes you think he's not?

[fezzyfestoon]

Wow, sinking even faster than I thought...

Uh...the expectations were much worse.  Do you really think after revealing that budget any Governor in the country would have approvals as high as Christie?

This guy should have pretty hilarious approvals a year from now.

Yup. Safe Cory Booker in 2013.

Yeah.

No.  Cory Booker is NOT running for Governor.

What makes you think he's not?

Him.  Not only has he declined he has interest in running in specific races, he has made it abundantly clear that his dedication is to Newark and not politics.  He's not a politician looking to further his career.  All he's interested in doing is fixing Newark.  He's been very supportive of Christie, refused opportunities for higher office already, and is facing difficult reelection as it is.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Wow, sinking even faster than I thought...

Uh...the expectations were much worse.  Do you really think after revealing that budget any Governor in the country would have approvals as high as Christie?

This guy should have pretty hilarious approvals a year from now.

Yup. Safe Cory Booker in 2013.

Yeah.

No.  Cory Booker is NOT running for Governor.

What makes you think he's not?

The fact that Booker's biggest backer is behind Christie right now is a good tip off. Part of the reason why he won is that he's in surprisingly well with the Newark machine. (Hint: It's the support of school choice.)

But never say never. If Christie looks especially vulnerable and/or pisses off the Newark machine, Booker might run. If Christie doesn't, Booker can just stay as mayor. No pressure.

[Badger]

Wow, sinking even faster than I thought...

Uh...the expectations were much worse.  Do you really think after revealing that budget any Governor in the country would have approvals as high as Christie?

This guy should have pretty hilarious approvals a year from now.

Yup. Safe Cory Booker in 2013.

Yeah.

No.  Cory Booker is NOT running for Governor.

What makes you think he's not?

Him.  Not only has he declined he has interest in running in specific races, he has made it abundantly clear that his dedication is to Newark and not politics.  He's not a politician looking to further his career.  All he's interested in doing is fixing Newark.  He's been very supportive of Christie, refused opportunities for higher office already, and is facing difficult reelection as it is.

Really? I hadn't heard this. What's the issue? I'm hardly an expert on NJ politics but most of the (national) media narrative is he's supposedly been quite successful.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Him.  Not only has he declined he has interest in running in specific races, he has made it abundantly clear that his dedication is to Newark and not politics.  He's not a politician looking to further his career.  All he's interested in doing is fixing Newark.  He's been very supportive of Christie, refused opportunities for higher office already, and is facing difficult reelection as it is.

Really? I hadn't heard this. What's the issue? I'm hardly an expert on NJ politics but most of the (national) media narrative is he's supposedly been quite successful.

There are certainly factions of the Democratic Party who never liked Booker (too white!) and never will, but they shouldn't amount to much. Make no mistake, Booker is a heavy favorite to win re-election.

[fezzyfestoon]

Him.  Not only has he declined he has interest in running in specific races, he has made it abundantly clear that his dedication is to Newark and not politics.  He's not a politician looking to further his career.  All he's interested in doing is fixing Newark.  He's been very supportive of Christie, refused opportunities for higher office already, and is facing difficult reelection as it is.

Really? I hadn't heard this. What's the issue? I'm hardly an expert on NJ politics but most of the (national) media narrative is he's supposedly been quite successful.

There are certainly factions of the Democratic Party who never liked Booker (too white!) and never will, but they shouldn't amount to much. Make no mistake, Booker is a heavy favorite to win re-election.

Yeah, exactly.  He's going to win, his team is just worried that he won't have his perfect council and won't win 70+% again, thus damaging his rising star status.

[Tender Branson]

State aid cuts, threat of N.J. property tax hikes send Christie's popularity plummeting

As he himself predicted, Gov. Chris Christie's proposed budget with its $1.4 billion reduction in municipal, school and college aid and resulting $250 average property tax hike, has not won him many friends, according to a new Rutgers-Eagleton Poll.

The result: A 12-point drop in popularity from 45 percent of New Jerseyans in February to 33 percent following his March 16 budget address.

During the same period, unfavorable impressions rose from 26 percent to 37 percent.

The 12-point drop in one month comes on the heels of a budget proposal that displeases 50 percent of New Jersey residents while pleasing 43 percent.

Even so, Christie is seen much more favorably than either party in state government, where only 26 percent view Democrats and 25 percent see Republicans favorably.

"Three weeks after the budget speech, the impact is starting to sink in," said David Redlawsk, director of the poll and professor of political science at Rutgers. "The results are recognition that the proposed budget cuts are going to hurt and a significant decrease in favorable impressions of Christie."

The poll was conducted from March 31 to Saturday and included 953 New Jersey adults.

Christie is viewed significantly less favorably now than he was when the poll surveyed New Jerseyans in late February, when Christie received a 45 percent favorable to 26 percent unfavorable.

The new poll has him upside down, with 33 percent favorable and 37 percent unfavorable, a swing of 23 percentage points.

http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/state/state-aid-cuts-threat-of-nj-property-tax-hikes-send-christies-popularity-plummeting

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Rutgers-Eagleton polls have about as much value as a sheet of toilet paper, but still, the numbers sound much more realistic than most. After 16 years of fiscally irresponsible governance, New Jersey is no longer a state that can be run effectively while still maintaining popularity.

(And yes, it pains me to mention above that Florio had some semblance of fiscal responsibility.)