November 19, 2008 - 8:16am
Inside Edge

Christie favorables among Republicans is outstanding

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Bob Franks had a 53%-3% favorble rating among Republicans after his 2000 U.S. Senate bid, and lost a primary for Governor six months later by fourteen percentage points

Outgoing U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie has a 42%-1% favorable rating among Republican voters, who by a 67%-4% margin want him to run for Governor in 2009.  In a head to head poll with Democrat Jon Corzine, Republicans back Christie 76%-10%.  Christie also leads Corzine among Independents, 38%-32%.

The data comes from a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

There is a silver lining for Steve Lonegan and other potential GOP gubernatorial candidates: a December 6, 2000 Quinnipiac poll had U.S. Rep. Bob Franks with a 51%-3% favorable rating and trailing Democrat James E. McGreevey by three points (38%-35%) in the 2001 gubernatorial camapaign.  Franks lost the '01 GOP primary to Bret Schundler by a 57%-43% margin.

Wally Edge can be reached via email at politicsnj@aol.com.