May 8, 2007 5:39 pm US/Eastern
Approval Rating For Corzine Climbs After Crash
Codey Still Very Popular Among New Jerseyans
by Magee Hickey
TRENTON, N.J. (CBS/AP) ―
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Jon S. Corzine resumed his duties as governor Monday, nearly a month after a high-speed crash on the Garden State Parkway almost killed him.
CBS
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Gov. Jon S. Corzine's approval rating climbed after he suffered serious injuries in an April 12 car accident, according to a new poll released Tuesday. The poll also found that the man who replaced Corzine while he recovered remains extremely popular.
The Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind poll found 58 percent of voters have a favorable opinion of Corzine, up from 53 percent in March. It found 28 percent have an unfavorable opinion of Corzine, compared to 30 percent in March.
The poll of 648 randomly selected voters was conducted May 1-6 and has a sampling error margin of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
The poll was taken after Corzine was released from a Camden hospital, where he spent 18 days recovering after breaking his leg, 11 ribs, collarbone and sternum when his state trooper-driven SUV crashed along the Garden State Parkway. The SUV was going 91 mph in a 65 mph zone.
Corzine wasn't wearing a seat belt, in violation of state law. He voluntarily paid a $46 fine.
The poll found 69 percent of Democrats and 41 percent of Republicans support Corzine.
"For now it would appear that the governor's standing with voters is unscathed," said Peter J. Woolley, a political scientist and the poll director. "This means that he has a much better chance of being effective as he gets back to work."
The Democrat resumed his gubernatorial duties on Monday. He will work from the governor's mansion in Princeton while he recuperates. He convened his first Cabinet meeting there Tuesday since returning as governor. His immediate plans involving finalizing the state budget. He then hopes to consider health care reform and making money off state assets such as toll roads.
But the poll found Corzine continues to have his work cut out for him when it comes to the possible lease of the New Jersey Turnpike or New Jersey Lottery to reap billions to pay state debt and free money for other needs.
Sixty-three percent of those polled oppose leasing those assets, though 54 percent said they've heard nothing about the idea.
Senate President Richard J. Codey, who served as acting governor from the April 12 accident until Monday, continues to enjoy high approval. It was his second lengthy stint as governor. He did the job for 14 months after James E. McGreevey resigned in 2004, earning high approval ratings during that stint.
Two-thirds of voters gave Codey a job rating of "excellent" or "good" during his recent acting governor stint, while just 16 percent rated it as "only fair" and just 3 percent said "poor."
"What can you say?" Woolley said. "People like this guy. If he could sing, he'd be a rock star."
Still, the poll found 45 percent said Codey should have done as Corzine wanted, while 34 percent said he should have done as he wanted during his acting governor run.
"As much as they like Codey, voters recognize that it's Corzine not Codey who has the mandate to govern," said Woolley.
(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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