Post-Sandy, a boost for Chris Christie

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie addresses a gathering Oct. 27, 2012, in North Wildwood, N.J.

/ AP

In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J., has seen his approval ratings get a significant boost, according to a new poll from Rutgers University's Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling, a seemingly good sign for the governor's 2013 re-election prospects.

The famously brash politician maintained a constant presence in the news in the aftermath of the superstorm, which ravaged the New Jersey shoreline and wreaked havoc in Atlantic City. But Christie's effusive praise of President Obama just days before the presidential election incited the ire of some Republicans, particularly considering his status as a high-profile Romney supporter.

New Jersey residents, unlike the national Republican establishment, seemed to appreciate Christie's response to the storm: More than 90 percent of them rated Christie as handling the post-Sandy crisis either "very well" (69 percent) or "somewhat well" (another 23 percent.) Moreover, where the GOP may have seen Christie's headline-making appearance with Mr. Obama as a slap in the face to former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, 81 percent of New Jerseyans thought Christie and Mr. Obama showed the "needed cooperation and bipartisanship." Only 12 percent thought Christie "went too far in his praise" of the president.

Overall, Christie's favorability rating jumped 19 points from pre-Sandy levels, to 67 percent among registered voters. Sixty-one percent of respondents cited the governor's storm leadership as the cause for a boost in support.

"Governor Christie has emerged as a clear leader in this crisis, with New Jerseyans applauding his efforts, and in particular his literal and figurative embrace of President Obama in a time of need," said David Redlawsk, director of the Rutgers-Eagleton Poll and professor of political science at Rutgers, in a statement released with the survey. "Despite a recent New York Times story that some national GOP leaders are condemning the governor for his show of bipartisanship, New Jerseyans of all stripes say it was exactly the right thing to do."

Christie's first term is up in January of 2014, and he has yet to formally a re-election bid. Among those thought to be among his top potential challengers include Mayor Cory Booker, Sen. Barbara Buono and Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald, though none of them have announced their intentions, either.

Many believe a second term for Christie in New Jersey would serve as something of a lead-in to a 2016 presidential bid: The candidate shot down reported GOP urgings to join the 2012 race, and he was granted they prime keynote speaking slot at the Republican National Convention this summer.

Whether or not Christie's appeal to the establishment remains intact, however, remains unknown. Some questioned his recent appearance on "Saturday Night Live" as insensitive in light of the fact that the recovery efforts were ongoing, and according to the New York Times, he hasn't yet been able to entirely repair the political damage that followed his now-famous embrace of the president. 

Still, as Romney can attest, the tide of the Republican establishment can change a lot over the course of four years -- or even a couple of days.

In an appearance on MSNBC this morning, former Romney foreign policy adviser Dan Senor bashed Romney backers for turning on the candidate just days after lining up for cabinet positions.

"The Friday night before the election, we were in Cincinnati for this huge rally ... Tens of thousands of people, you could feel the energy, a hundred top-tier Romney surrogates were at the event. I'm backstage with some of them, I won't mention their names, but they're talking about Romney like he's Reagan. 'His debate performances were the best performances of any Republican nominee in presidential history. He's iconic.' They were talking about him because they believed he was going to win in four or five days. And in fact, some of them were already talking to our transition to position themselves for a Romney cabinet," said Senor, according to Politico. "They were on television, it was unbelievable, it was five, six days later, absolutely eviscerating him."

[KPeters_from_UK]

I still think he can be a rude bully and needs to have some anger management sessions but I did find some respect for him during the Sandy disaster. But really got me smiling was when he was on Fox News just before hte election and the Far Right wing "reporters" asked him about Romney and Christie told them to shut up.

[logictoo]

Politician may have decided under the circumstances he had a chance to play both sides of the fence. If Romney won he could still be his buddy and if Obama won he has a President he pretends to like and can get away with it.

[likeICM]

so now everyone likes Christie

[MerrellOBrian64]

Make the dividing line where my rights begin and end. The christian zealot taliban and conservatard bigots who believe it's their business whether a man can marry another man, or whether some unrelated woman may have an abortion or how others raise their children deserve to continue to decline from the political scene. Their hypocricy, drama, wife swapping, embezzlement and wife swapping practices have overflowed from their churches and so, they seek to gain control in public! Take your backwoods religiosity OUT of my future and CIVIL RIGHTS!

[MerrellOBrian64]

I've been involved in church most of my youth. I KNOW the stories you think the public doesn't know. How the pastor is screwing around on his wife. How the deacon is on drugs. How positions are granted in the church according to gifts. How the pastor killed himself with an OD. How the choir director is having sex with minors. The American church is overflowing with hypocricy, dirt and evil so much so, the membership seeks to reach out politically due their failure to control their own group. It's so sad! AND YOU KNOW your church is exactly the same!

[Wingsfan1983]

You know how to spell O'Brian, but you do not understand compromise. This is not the battle to pick if you are seeking a platform for civil rights. This post makes you look like a fool.

[opedanderson2]

I love all these Obama supporters praising Christie, saying he is the road ahead for the GOP. Yet, when asked these same people would never vote for the GOP no matter what.

So it's empty praise.

[kansas1946]

That Republicans would jump on this guy in the aftermath of a devasting storm, for praising the presidents help, tells you all you need to know about the current bunch of thugs in the Republican party. Bless you Governor Christie for acting like a gentleman. Maybe you could give your Republican "brothers and sisters" some lessons.

I might not vote for you, but I damned well respect you.

[opedanderson2]

So your praise is wasted then.

Lots of people are supporting him, but will not vote for him.

GIVE ME MORE STUFF!!!!

[jimbosmith2910]

Christie makes jeb bush nervous.

[rksharma-2009]

He is really a character. It knows math and this is why when he cut Romney off his list before the election, he was adding his own numbers for 2014 when he will be running for governor. Also he knew that Obama is way too smart to lose to Romney who had made comments like 47%. However, I don't believe that it will be easier for him to get re-elected in 2014 because of Sandy. 2014 is way too for and people's memories are short. Anything could happen between now and then.

[opedanderson2]

I agree.

He saw his chance to get off the Romney train wreck and took it...

[bpai99]

I don't understand the complaints from the Romney camp. As a businessman, Romney knows full well the wisdom of cutting your losses and dumping losing investments. That's what the GOP is doing with him.

[AOCGUY]

I can see that he has maintained a positive high public profile during and afterthe storm and that is great but what exactly did Goc Christy do to help those people and businesses in NJ they were affected by the storm? Did he somehow obtain emergency aid that otherwise would not have been there? Did he take any action to accelerate the return of utilities? My questions is that other than talk did the good Gov take any action that made peoples lives better that would not have occured had he just sat on his tookus?

[twmat311]

They story on the utilities was that the restoration is still going faster than it did following Katrina, Rita and/or Irene. And no one was carrying around a cash box; request for aid has been filed.

Christie was also clear on the effects of ignoring evacuation orders - but he was sympathetic to those that did ignore orders.