Chris Christie Weight May Take a Back Seat to His Huge Approval Rating in 2016 Run

Impact

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R) has received an all time highest approval rating from New Jersey residents. According to a new Rutgers-Eagleton poll released Friday, 73% of New Jersey residents are satisfied with the job Christie is doing. With these new figures Christie has a strong chance at reelection in November.

Director of the Rutgers poll David Redlawsk remarked on the findings of the study. He claimed that Hurricane Sandy was a major factor in Christie’s approval:

“Governor Christie remains very popular across the board, with a 70 percent favorability rating and continuing sky-high overall job approval. It appears that Christie’s handling of Sandy has made the difference, since voters are not nearly as positive about other key issues. If voters begin to focus on these issues instead of the Sandy recovery, we could see a change in the governor’s overall ratings over the next few months.”

Christie may appeal to New Jersey residents, but can he win over the entire nation? It's quite possible that his weight could keep him from the White House.. In an age where appearances and impressions are crucial, and national campaigns involve massive amounts of public exposure,, this may be an area of concern for Christie.

The last time Americans elected a president who weighed more than 300 pounds was William Howard Taft in 1908.. Other politicians have shed some major pounds at hopes of securing more votes. Former GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee dropped over 100 pounds before participating in the 2008 election.

However, Americans may be able to see past his figure and declare their support for the governor. Since obesity has been a growing concern in the U.S., Christie may be a better representation of the American electorate.

Christie has not been shy about his weight and has been quite self-deprecating about it.. He has appeared on Late Show With David Letterman and Saturday Night Live, and has joined in on the jabs concerning his weight. Christie may not be the fittest politician but he has strong approval from the public. Weight loss or no weight loss, he will still be a major contender if he decides to run in the 2016 presidential election.