A new Monmouth University poll this week shows Gov. Chris Christie leading his Democratic rival 59 percent to 35 percent.
That’s no surprise. What is surprising is that the Republican governor is more popular in his home state than that other well- known Jersey boy, Bruce Springsteen.
The news comes from a new Conservative Intel poll of New Jerseyans reporting that Christie enjoys a favorable rating of 56 percent, against just 48 percent for Springsteen. What makes this so delicious is that while Christie has long made clear his love for Springsteen — he’s attended north of 130 Springsteen concerts — for a long time it was an unrequited love from the rocker, who had campaigned for Barack Obama.
That all changed last year after Springsteen gave the governor a small, on-stage shout-out and a hug at NBC’s telethon for those hurt by Hurricane Sandy. “Yeah, we hugged, and he told me it’s official: We’re friends,” Christie later said. Even with their newfound friendship, however, it was still clear just who was another politician and who was a real rock star.
No longer. The new poll suggests that Christie has achieved a level of rock-star status that has surpassed the previous home-state favorite — and he’s pulled it off as a conservative Republican in one of the bluest of states.
So move over, Bruce. However you want to spin it, in New Jersey Christie’s now the real Boss.