State, Gov. Christie Get Higher Marks In Latest Poll Of New Jersey Residents
MADISON, N.J. (CBS) - It's been more than seven years since a Garden State pollster has been able to say this: more people think New Jersey is headed in the right direction these days.
It's a close call, at 46 percent to 43 percent, in the Fairleigh Dickinson University "Public Mind" Poll, but poll director Peter Woolley says the last time that happened was the summer of 2004 and Jim McGreevey was governor.
"There was scandal engulfing his whole administration, and then just two weeks after we reported the right direction one point more than the wrong direction, Governor McGreevey resigned," Woolley recalls. "His wrong-direction numbers shot up pretty far."
It appears that people like the job Gov. Chris Christie has done in bringing taxes and spending under control. He enjoys a 51-36 job approval rating.
Political independents seem to be turning the tide on the state's perception, although more than half of those who felt negatively had a public employee in the house.
Reported by David Madden, KYW Newsradio 1060
