A Lesson for the GOP: Chris Christie Makes Tough Choices and Wins Public Opinion by Doing the Right Thing

Image: Chris Christie looking out for taxpayers and polling well

by the Left Coast Rebel

Now and then a story comes along that smashes ruling class Republican orthodoxy to pieces. Typically the squishy, statist-appeasing Republican leadership trembles at the sight of blood or a good fight for the American taxpayer, left to cower in the shadows --- reading the New York Times --- betraying the party's limited government platform.

And then in the meantime these pols then lose public favor and elections as recent polling has shown that America is 40+ % self-identified as conservative.

But what about tough, plain spoken leaders like Chris Christie?

I'm sure that he is hated by the New Jersey taxpayer-pillaging interest groups/liberal-leftist lobby. And New Jersey is a deep blue state too. But what does the overall public in the state think of him and his tough governance?

Via Another Black Conservative:

New Jersey Online: The Quinnipiac University survey of 1,190 registered voters found 51 percent approve of Christie’s job performance, while 36 percent disapprove. Voters are also more likely to identify Christie as a “leader” (51 percent) than as a “bully” (39 percent) when asked to choose.

It’s a significant improvement from June, when voters were split down the middle on both Christie’s approval rating and whether he’s more of a bully or a leader.[…]

Christie’s ratings are better than what his predesessor, Democrat Jon Corzine, chalked up in his first summer. Coming off a battle with the Legislature that temporarily shut down state government, Corzine had a 44 percent approval rating in a July 2006 Quinnipiac poll.[…]

Garden State voters are split on how they feel about President Obama, with 47 percent approving and 47 percent disapproving — his lowest rating in any New Jersey Quinnipiac poll. [MORE]

Clifton easily sums this news up:

If Chris Christie can make the hard choices in a blue state like New Jersey and no suffer from it, then national Republicans need not worry about making the hard choices when they take control of Congress. The American people have pretty much figured out that the bill for decades of reckless spending has come due. They are pretty much ready to take the harsh medicine needed to put our financial house in order. All that is required is a dose of honesty from Washington and change in the national narrative.

Christie has successfully changed the narrative by casting the tax payer as the victim and government largess as the victimizer. Christie will continue to be a success so long as he stays clear of foolish comments like opining on Snooki and the Ground Zero Mosque.

Republicans running now and running the show after November - do you have the cajones to take on the statist special interests that are bleeding the wealth and future of our nation?

Paging Chris Christie.

Cross posted to Left Coast Rebel.

New Polls: Obama Lost His Coattails

Members of Congress who think they can rely on Obama to rescue them from the consequences of their health care vote had better think twice. Obama's approval numbers have dropped to new lows across the board.

In the Gallup's Daily tracking poll, Obama's approval has dropped below 50% for the very first time. It should be noted that Gallup samples all adult Americans in its poll; it does not focus on registered voters or likely voters. Ratings for Obama based on samples of all adults are always several points higher than those based on likely voters. That's because some of the Democrats' most enthusiastic supporters, e.g., young adults, are less likely to turn out to vote.

Obama also dropped below 50% in polling by Quinnipiac University for the first time this week. In their poll of registered voters, Obama's approval is at 48%. Obama’s approval rating was 59 percent in a Quinnipiac survey conducted Feb. 25 to March 2.

Quinnipiac also found that only 47% approve of most of Obama's policies, and voters strongly disapprove of the health care overhaul passed by the House of Representatives which he has endorsed (51% to 35%). Voters also disapprove of Obama's handling of health care 53 - 41 percent.

Obama's numbers have been especially bad this week in Rasmussen's polling. In fact, today’s results match the lowest Approval Index rating yet recorded for Obama and it’s the third straight day at -14. Prior to these three days, Obama’s presidential ratings had fallen to -14 on only one day since taking office. (Approval Index = strong approval - strong disapproval).

Overall, 47% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of Obama's performance. Fifty-two percent (52%) now disapprove.

Obama's approval rating has also hit a new low of 46% in Fox News' polling. Despite the fact that Fox's sample included a slightly higher-than-expected percentage of Republicans, results on approval of ObamaCare (40% approve, 52% disapprove) were similar to those found by Quinnipiac.

h/t: Memeorandum

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