HUFFPOLLSTER: Christie Trails Clinton By 23 Points In New Jersey

Hillary Clinton enjoys a huge lead over Chris Christie in his home state. Americans are unhappy with how Obama is handling ISIS. And it’s all within the margin of error for Republicans in the early primary states. This is HuffPollster for Tuesday, February 17, 2015.

CHRISTIE TRAILS CLINTON IN NEW JERSEY – Hillary Clinton leads Gov. Chris Christie among New Jersey voters by 23 points, according to a Rutgers-Eagleton poll released Tuesday. Fifty-eight percent of respondents say they would vote for Clinton, while 35 percent would vote for Christie. Clinton holds similar leads over former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R). Eighty percent of New Jersey voters say that the country is ready for a female president, and a majority feel Clinton, specifically, has the right experience, demeanor and “look” to make a good president. [Rutgers]

The results mark a shift away from Christie since last summer, when Clinton held a smaller, 11-point lead over Christie in Rutgers-Eagleton’s polling. Back then, independents were split about evenly between Christie and Clinton; in the latest survey, they went for Clinton by a 23-point margin. Republicans remained largely in Christie’s camp.

Other New Jersey pollsters have found a similar trend. A Monmouth poll released in early February found Clinton consider to be better presidential material by a 26-point margin, with Clinton attracting the majority of independents and a significant fraction of Republicans.

-In New Hampshire, President Obama’s job approval rating remains a low 42 percent. [UNH]

-In Maryland, opposition to casinos grows. [WashPost]

-Almost 40 percent of Israelis are thinking of emigrating. [Haaretz]

-A touchscreen survey of dogs (yes, dogs) shows they can recognize a smiling human face. [National Geographic via @JHenning]

The Huffington Post