It’s still hard to find Republican voters who think New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie should get the party’s presidential nomination, but his showing in last week’s debate may be prompting more people to give him a look.
Christie’s favorable rating among Republicans and independents who lean Republican in aCNN poll taken after the debate is 44%, the first time he’s cracked 40% in that category in quite some time.
Christie received good reviews for his performance in the debate last Wednesday, and Seton Hall University political scientist Matthew Hale said Christie has the potential to pick up support from fading contenders.
“I think the uptick in Gov. Christie’s favorables are because people are getting to know the other candidates better and liking them less,’’ Hale said. “Gov. Scott Walker has totally cratered and as a result Gov. Christie may no longer be seen as such a bad option.’’
The Christie and Walker comparison is striking. Christie in July was 25% favorable in Monmouth University polling, and his net favorability rating (favorable minus unfavorable) was -20, the worst of 17 Republican candidates tested. The field has since been reduced to 16 with the withdrawal of former Texas governor Rick Perry.
Walker at that time was 42% favorable and 31% net favorable.
Christie’s CNN net favorability is far better now at +12, comparable to Walker’s +14.
Still, Christie apparently has a ways to go to get people to fully commit and put on “Christie for President’’ buttons.
The new CNN poll shows Christie as the pick of 3% of those polled for the nomination, up from the 2% he registered before the debate.
Christie is also at 3% in a Zogby Poll released Monday.
Donald Trump is atop both polls with 24% from CNN and 33% from Zogby.
CNBC hosts the next debate Oct. 28. It will be a pivotal time for Christie, Hale said.
“Gov. Christie’s repeated attempts to turn last week’s debate toward the audience was an effective way of signaling to viewers that he was with them and as a result we see his favorable rating improving,’’ Hale said. “It is important to note that most voters already think they know a lot about Chris Christie. That means it is easy to give other candidates a positive look. As people get to know all the candidates they will start to like all of them less and as a result maybe they’ll come back to Christie with more positive eyes.’’
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