It may be bad timing, but it seems the media was fevered to carry a story that has more to do about the impact of a race in 2-3 years from now, even though the public is less interested in it. According to a new PEW Research poll, the Ft. Lee Christie story drew little public interest.

Only 18% of U.S. adults said they followed news about Christie�s apology for the lane closures ordered by his aides very closely, according to the poll. By contrast, 44% very closely followed news about the cold winter weather and 28% tracked news about the economy.

There also has been little short-term change in opinions about Christie: 60% say their opinion of Christie has not changed in recent days, while 16% now view him less favorably and 6% more favorably.

The poll found that majorities of Republicans (69%), Democrats (55%) and independents (60%) say that their opinion of Christie has not changed lately. Among Republicans, about as many say their opinion has become more favorable (9%) as less favorable (10%).

More Democrats say their opinion has become less favorable (25%) than more favorable (3%). Among independents, 14% say their opinion of Christie has become less favorable and 6% more favorable.

Overall, 57% of those who tracked news about Christie and watching his apology say their opinion of him has not changed; 29% say it has become less favorable, while 11% say it has become more favorable.

Republicans overall, those who followed the story at least fairly closely are closely divided between those who are more favorable to Christie (18%) and less favorable (17%), with 62% saying their opinion hasn�t changed.

Democrats who closely followed Christie�s apology have come to have sharply less favorable opinions of Christie: 43% say their opinion is now less favorable, 3% more favorable. Nonetheless, half (50%) say their opinion hasn�t changed.

In addition, Mr. Christie job approval also took a slight slip but is still largely positive, according to the latest Monmouth University/Asbury Park Press Poll, released Tuesday.

Gov. Christie�s job rating currently stands at 59% approve to 32% disapprove among New Jersey residents and 58% to 35% among registered voters. His job approval stood at 65% approve just one month ago. This is the first time since Superstorm Sandy struck the state over 14 months ago that the governor�s approval rating has dipped below 60%. Christie�s current job rating is still higher than any poll ratings he had in his term prior to Sandy.

Republicans are sticking by Christie, giving him an 89% approval rating which is in line with the 85% GOP support he received last month. Approval has dropped among independents from 73% in December to 62% now and among Democrats from 47% in December to 38% now.

�It looks like the bridge incident has dimmed Christie�s more than year-long Sandy afterglow just a bit. Still, his job performance numbers remain strong and suggest that the governor can bank on some continued goodwill as this story develops,� said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute.

(Jacob Kornbluh – YWN)