NJ State of the State 2015: Political Experts Voice Expectations

by Stephanie Colombini | 01/12/2015 | 5:58pm

NJ State of the State 2015: Political Experts Voice Expectations

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's making his State of the State address tomorrow, and it remains unclear how his potential upcoming presidential bid will factor into his speech.
Political experts are voicing differing opinions about how Governor Christie will angle his State of the State address.
 
Christie's popularity with New Jersey residents has been slipping ever since the George Washington Bridge Scandal began last year. That's according to Professor Ben Dworkin with the Redovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University.  
 
Dworkin speculates Governor Christie will use his State of the State to reset the public's perception of his administration.
 
"He'll use it as an opportunity to make it a big of a swan song, a bit of a 'look how far we've come' kind of speech," he said.
 
Another political analyst, Patrick Murray with the Monmouth University Polling Institute, thinks the Governor won't spend a lot of time trying to mend relationships with New Jerseyans.  He says Christie's expected bid for the White House in 2016 will help shape his address.
 
"I think we're going to see a few things that are geared toward New Jersey, but nothing big," he said.  "I think the audience for this is definitely a national audience."
 
Murray and Dworkin agree Christie will wait for his budget address next month to outline any specific proposals.  
 

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