Michael Bloomberg

For New Jerseyans who follow the race for Mayor of New York City more closely than they do the contest for Salem County Freeholder: a new Quinnipiac University poll released this morning shows that NYC voters, by a 54%-42% margin, support extending the eight-year term limit to twelve years so Michael Bloomberg can serve as third term as mayor.  Bloomberg, who says he wants to run again in 2009 even though city law does not currently allow it, has a 75%-19% job approval rating.  Nearly two-thirds of the voters (65%) say they still support the basic concept of term limits -- especially for City Councilmembers -- but they still want Bloomberg to remain in office.  In a head-to-head matchup with six other potential candidates, Bloomberg is at 51%; none of the others break out of single digits.

“Will it be a coronation? Bloomberg’s support is more than 50 percent. The others?  Way down in single digits.  His job approval is still up in the stratosphere, where it’s been for three years,” said Maurice Carroll, the Quinnipiac poll director.

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Senate President Dick Codey has joined a growing chorus that’s clamoring to install New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg as the nation’s new “economic czar” – a post that doesn’t yet exist.

“Having worked with Mayor Bloomberg when I was Governor, I witnessed his economic prowess first hand,” said Codey.  “No one understands the business sector better than he does.  Just as importantly, he relates to working class families and understands their struggles… I honestly believe that there’s no one more qualified in this country to take on such a critical role that requires an understanding of the fundamentals of both Wall Street and government.  Whoever is trusted with making this appointment would be foolish not to go directly to Mike Bloomberg.”

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has a 70%-22% approval rating, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released this morning.  Governor Jon Corzine had an upside-down 37%-52% approval rating in the most recent Quinnipiac poll of New Jersey voters.

David Paterson has been Governor of New York since Monday and voters already like him: he has a 46%-3% approval rating, and 65% of voters already know who he is, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released early this morning. Three-fourths of New York voters (75%) say he will govern effectively and 67% expect that he’ll restore trust in state government. The pollster said that revelations of his extramarital affairs caused voter attitudes about Paterson to shift slightly during the last night of the survey.

“Gov. David Paterson begins with good wishes. By big margins, New Yorkers think he’ll restore public trust – boy, can Albany use that – and be able to govern effectively,” said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

Governor Jon Corzine can deal with his own sagging approval ratings – his numbers are much better than New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg was upside-down at a 37%-51% approval rating in 2004 and turned around to win re-election with relative ease in 2005.  His bigger problem is coming up over the next few months: Democratic legislators will be even less likely to support his toll hike plan now that they realize more than seven out of ten New Jersey voters oppose it.

In Journal square, four men say thumbs up to Clinton over Obama, but like the latter as vice president.

Former Gov. Christine Todd Whitman says that her attendance at a bi-partisan meeting in Oklahoma this month should not be misinterpreted as playing a role in the founding of a third party or in urging New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to mount an independent bid for President this year.  Whitman, a PolitickerNJ.com columnist, said she would not leave the GOP.

Former Governor Christine Todd Whitman will be among a small group of Democrats and Republicans who will attend a January 7 meeting in Oklahoma with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg that could result in a third party presidential candidate. 

According to a Washington Post report, the bi-partisan group will be “prepared to back Bloomberg or someone else” if the major party candidates “do not pledge to go beyond tokenism in building an administration that seeks national consensus.” 

Whitman's involvement in this effort could impact the campaign of her daughter, Kate Whitman, who is seeking the Republican nomination for Congress in the 7th district.

A New Jersey poll released today by Quinnipiac University shows Sen. Hillary Clinton gaining on former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani in a head-to-head match-up for the presidency.

Giuliani leads Clinton 47%-44% mong New Jersey voters, a margin narrowed since April when Quinnipiac had Giuliani leading against Clinton, 49% to 40%.

But in three-way race with New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg chewing into Giulaini’s lead and giving an even 36% to Giuliani and Clinton while earning 18% of the vote himself.