Poll: Clinton, Christie basically tied in Virginia
(CNN) - A new poll in the crucial battleground state of Virginia indicates voters in the commonwealth have a more favorable view of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie than other potential GOP presidential candidates.
And if Christie were to overcome the traffic scandal that's dogging his administration, he would be considered the best potential match against Hillary Clinton in Virginia, according to the Christopher Newport University survey released Monday.
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The poll, like virtually every other survey, indicates Clinton would have a commanding lead in the Democratic primary, with 66% of Democrats and independents who lean towards the Democratic party in Virginia saying they'd vote for the former secretary of state over Vice President Joe Biden at 19%, or Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts at 7%.
On the Republican side, Christie has the highest marks among voters in terms of favorable ratings. While Clinton is the only potential contender to top 50% (with 51% saying they view her in a favorable light), Christie comes close at 46%. Among Republicans, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush follows behind at 30%.
The distance between Christie and Bush narrows, however, when voters are asked who they would vote for in the GOP primary. No potential candidate tops 20%. Christie comes in at 19% with Bush slightly behind at 18%.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a 2008 Republican White House candidate, and 2012 GOP vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan each get 13% support. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, comes in at 9%, with Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, at 7%; Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, at 4%; and Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin at 3%. Thirteen percent say they're undecided.
Virginia is not considered an early primary state, but the swing state is one of the most important in the general election.
If the GOP nominates Christie, he would do the best against Clinton in the commonwealth. She would still edge him by 43%-41%, but the two percentage point margin falls within the poll's overall sampling error, leaving them statistically tied.
If the election were held today, Paul would be the second best match against Clinton, though the Kentucky senator would still fall behind with 40% to her 47%.
The survey marks good news for Christie, who's seen a drop in his poll numbers since a state legislative committee and the U.S. Attorney's Office began investigating his administration in January over an alleged orchestrated traffic jam near the George Washington Bridge. The governor has denied any involvement in the scheme.
"While no Republican has as dominant a position as Clinton does right now, Chris Christie is the most formidable opponent to Clinton, and it is significant that he is able to keep Clinton's support amongst women below 50 percent," Quentin Kidd, director of the Wason Center for Public Policy at Christopher Newport University, said in a release about the poll.
According to the hypothetical match-up between Clinton and Christie in Virginia, 45% of women would back the former first lady and former U.S. senator, while 38% would support Christie.
Clinton, who also has not announced whether she'll run again for president, would surely be counting on Virginia as a key state for her campaign. She campaigned last year for the commonwealth's new governor, Terry McAuliffe, a longtime friend of the Clintons.
The Wason Center for Public Policy Survey Research Lab at Christopher Newport University conducted the survey from February 23-28 with 901 registered Virginia voters by telephone. The overall sampling error is plus or minus 3.3 percentage points.
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I would love to hear from republicans who have been talking about TRUST. Their News Network (Fox News) hammered the President so hard that he has lost TRUST from people claiming he misled them on ACA. Can they tell us now with straight faces if Christie is still trusted? I do not think so!
Jason Walsh
Nobody should vote for either of these clowns. If American people truly want the change that was promised in 2008 and 2012, then it's time to stop voting based on party lines. It's time to stop voting like it's Red v Blue. Dems and Repubs have been doing the same shitty job for longer than anyone can recall. Wake up, before it's too late.
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TRANSLATION: Vote for the man who thinks the Civil Rights Act is unconstitutional, Sen. Rand Paul. Vote for the man who denied making statements that he knew he had never said. Vote for the man whose staff plagiarize Wikipedia. Vote for the man who calls on his party to stop name calling, and then proceeds to call Pres. Obama an unflattering name.
@Ken in MO, perhaps you can refresh your memory on how Hillary turned $1,000 into just under $100,000 in less than a year through her astute commodities trading. Check out her relationship with the lawyer who represented Tyson Foods, as well as the amount of financial help Tyson received from the state of Arkansas, etc. I am no Christie fan, but it is laughable that you portray the Clintons as "clean". Btw, it was nice of them to return the furniture that they absconded with from the White House.....class act.
They're BOTH liars...
......What Does it Matter?
The dems are trying to destroy Christie and the media helps them. They have found nothing on Christie.
NJ guy is a total bully. No chance. Hillary16.
Loss of trust? I'm still trying to figure out why anyone cares about a traffic jam on a bridge due to closed lanes. The liberal mass media seems to think it is Watergate but what about the death of an American ambassador and 3 other Americans? I also like how we "blame" Fox News for telling us that Obama lied when he did so many times on camera!!! So Fox is bad for doing its job.
Polls don’t / won’t matter; with a Republican House and Senate after November 2014; Hillary won’t run in 2016.
Tied,... just think what it would be if the press had not turned bridgegate into watergate.
Christie will be dead long before the election, and unfortunately, his massive heart attack will happen in prison.
Typical cheap Jersey mobster – they've been running that state for the past 70 years.
Crook Christie – please, take care of your health – those arteries are completely clogged, and you are living on borrowed time.
Not a real fan of Christie, but if he's the nominee, you bet. Hillary has proven she in an incompetent democrat and just as far left as the present POTUS.
Quit listening to the media insituating Christie done something wrong. Check the facts! The media is so scared we might actually elect some one that is honest they speculate and some are dumb enough to believe the speculation.
Why CNN is not credible: you call Christie's scandal a 'traffic scandal?' This was not a traffic problem – it was a corruption problem. It was bribery, it was a misuse of power, it was incompetence, it was putting citizens lives in danger to get payback, it was political filth of the worst kind. And for him them to claim he 'knew nothing,' well that just makes it worse. Lies, incompetence, doling out political favors and political punishment to those who disagree on our dime! Is that democracy? No, it is tyranny and the man has no right to office. And CNN, you need to learn how to do journalism and you need to frame the issues honestly.
This poll shows just how weak Hillary Clinton really is and how sick of liberal Democrats the country is. Thank you Obama and Obamacare.
The indictments have not yet been finished for cristy and his cabal. That will change the equation substantially.
I remember Rand Paul referring to President Clinton as a "sexual predator" Pretty accurate description. But I need to be reminded what name he called President Obama?
Everyone is so sick and tired of the Clintons, the Bushes, and soon the Obamas. Its neverending. There's been a Clinton or a Bush in the White House Admin for the past 32 years. Cmon people. New blood paallleeeeaaaaazzze. The are old hats, and they don't know when to quit. America has a lot of good talent that have leadership qualities. These aren't it.
You go, Leslie Song! I agree 100%!
Both parties are bought and paid for by their political donors. People need to take their heads out of the sand.
They both are inadequate. Hillary is a liar and Christy just doesn't have it. We need new blood
Please folks, lets set the bar higher than this.
Way too early for this.
Christie will be lucky if he doesn't get jail time!
Democrats, get ready to lose big time in November
I can never ever vote for somebody who left Americans under attack to fend for themselves, espeically after they were denied adequate security by that person. Hillary Clinton failed the first test she faced and failed it miserably. She proved she is not up to the job of Commander in Chief.