NJ poll: Christie seen as not ‘completely honest’

A majority of New Jersey residents think Gov. Chris Christie (R) is not being “completely honest” about his level of knowledge about a scandal involving members of his administration closing bridge lanes in act of political retribution last year, according to a new poll.

Christie has denied personal involvement in discussions that took place between members of his administration and state transportation officials about closing lanes on the George Washington Bridge, which connects New Jersey to New York City, in September 2013.

The now-departed Christie officials are accused of closing the lanes in retaliation for the Democratic mayor of Fort Lee, N.J. refusing to endorse Christie’s re-election bid last year.

Christie fired two of his top aides and traveled to Fort Lee to apologize to voters there for the traffic tie-ups that ensued because of the bridge lane closures. The governor, who is thought to be a likely 2016 presidential candidate, said he just found out members of his administration were involved in the decision to close the lanes last week.

A poll released by Monmouth University and the Asbury Park Press on Monday revealed that 51 percent of New Jersey voters thought Christie was not being “completely honest” about his knowledge of the lane closures.

The same poll found that 52 percent of New Jersey do not think Christie was personally involved in the lane closures, however.

Christie’s overall favorably among New Jersey voters dipped from 65 percent in December to 59 percent after the bridge scandal gained national attention.