http://tv.msnbc.com/2012/11/27/gov-christie-high-approval-ratings-and-re-election-plans-just-in-time-for-iowa/
Gov. Chris Christie announced Tuesday that he is seeking a second term and will be on the New Jersey ballot in 2013. The timing couldn’t be better for him–both for his re-election prospects as governor and a potential run for higher office. Governor Christie’s performance during hurricane Sandy impressed voters: in a new Quinnipiac poll, he got an approval rating of 72%, the highest score Quinnipiac University ever measured for a NJ governor.
New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie did an “excellent” or “good” job responding to Hurricane Sandy, 95 percent of Garden State voters say, as they give the governor a 72 – 21 percent approval rating… Today’s score tops Christie’s previous high 59 – 36 percent job approval in an April 11 survey by the independent Quinnipiac University. Even Democrats approve of the Republican governor 52 – 39 percent. Voters approve 84 – 12 percent, including 69 – 28 percent among Republicans, of Christie’s praise for President Barack Obama’s actions after Sandy.
Winning a second term in 2013 would mean the timing is perfect for Christie to seek the GOP presidential nomination.
The governor does not yet have a clear Democratic rival, but he’d be a formidable rival. New Jersey is a reliably blue state in presidential elections but the electorate has given the state’s highest office to Republicans 3 times since 1980, including Governor Christie.
Christie would have 2014 and 2015 to govern and raise money–and enough time left to admire (or eat) the butter sculptures in August at the Iowa State Fair.