Despite the growing “Bridgegate” scandal, Gov. Chris Christie is polling well—particularly with women in at least one state—in the latest 2016 survey.
The new survey shows Hillary Clinton leading the entire Republican field in 2016, though Christie held her to a two-point lead and eroded her historical advantage with women voters. The poll, by the Christopher Newport University’s Judy Ford Wason Center for Public Policy, was obtained by Politico.
And while Democrats overwhelmingly support the former Secretary of State, with 66% of the party rooting for a Clinton ticket, her long record and name recognition could work against her. Virginia voters made it clear that they’d made their mind up about her — just 7% said they were unsure whether they viewed Clinton favorably or unfavorably, while 51% had a favorable opinion and 42% had an unfavorable opinion.
Others, like Christie, had room for growth, with 24% of voters unsure about him. Rubio and Paul left 44% and 35% of voters, respectively, unsure what to think.
These are some of the better 2016 poll numbers for the New Jersey governor since news broke that his office had orchestrated a traffic jam as political retribution.
Christie showed particular strength at pulling women voters away from Clinton—the New Jersey governor was the only Republican who kept Clinton’s vote among women below 50%.
His lead among women could be a strong selling point among the party as 2012 showed the biggest gender divide polling firm Gallup has ever recorded.
Before the ‘Bridgegate’ scandal erupted, Christie showed a similarly strong performance against Clinton in Iowa in a Quinnipiac poll. In that poll, however, Christie appeared to struggle with women voters.
Two other Republicans held the former New York senator and First Lady to single-digit leads—tea party darlings and Republican Sens. Marco Rubio and Rand Paul came within eight and seven points of Clinton, respectively.
Jane Timm