By Michael Aron
Chief Political Correspondent
Monmouth University pollster Patrick Murray says the events of Friday and today have taken a toll on Chris Christie’s numbers.
His poll of 500 New Jerseyans taken over the weekend has 69 percent saying Christie has not been completely honest about the bridge scandal.
Among Republicans it’s 52 to 39 saying he hasn’t been completely honest.
Fifty-six percent say he knew about the lane closures while they were happening while 33 percent say he learned about it later.
And 50 percent believe he was involved, while 34 percent believe “not involved.”
“I think New Jerseyans just don’t buy the story that Gov. Christie has been telling. Sixty-nine percent say he hasn’t been completely honest. Fifty-six percent think he knew about it,” Murray said.
The attorneys in the case have all suggested there is more to be told.
“There is a lot more that will come out, unfortunately I am not in a position to talk about matters in detail,” said attorney Alan Zegas.
“Maybe your question will be answered, maybe not. It’s not in the indictment. It’s like the end of Downton Abbey, got to wait until a whole other season,” said U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman.
Murray says the two indictments and one guilty plea that did go down were the minimum everyone expected.
“We found that three of four New Jerseyans say, no, this goes deeper. There are more people involved in it than these three people who have been charged so far, and that’s what’s gonna hurt Chris Christie. If New Jersyans’ belief is right and it starts coming out at trial, then Chris Christie’s gonna have to answer these charges. And what’s gonna happen with Republicans nationally is, they’re gonna say if New Jerseyans don’t believe this guy, why should I believe this guy? Particularly if I’ve got other choices like Jeb Bush or Scott Walker,” Murray said.
“It’s not good obviously, but it’s certainly not as bad as a lot of people predicted it might be,” said Nick Acocella.
Acocella, editor of Politifax, thinks what New Jerseyans feel and what’s happening in the national GOP race are two different things.
“I hate to disagree with Patrick, he’s a friend and really smart but I think this is not getting any attention in newspapers elsewhere. It’s not getting the kind of attention it’s getting here certainly. It’ll play a part but it won’t be the significant piece,” he said.
Murray feels otherwise.
“A majority of Republican New Jerseyans before the indictments believed Chris Christie. Now a majority don’t believe Chris Christie and that’s a real big difference,” Murray said. “That will play nationally. That’s gonna have ripple effects.”
Seton Hall University‘s Matt Hale says so far so good for Christie with one caveat.
“ANd so what we’re seeing from Friday till today is that the three main players — Mr. Wildstein, Ms. Kelly and Mr. Baroni — they’re starting to fight. They’re starting to argue with each other and as soon as that happens you never know what could come out, right. And that’s the real danger for him. As long as they’re fighting in public, as long as there’s these arguments, the game’s not over in terms of what others could hit for Governor Christie,” said Hale.
Most observers still expect Christie to run. As one put it over the weekend, if he were to drop out now it would look like the bridge scandal got the best of him and he doesn’t want that as his legacy.