New Poll: NJ Residents Divided on Christie's Marriage Equality Stance

A new poll shows that New Jersey residents are split when it comes to Republican Gov. Chris Christie's handling of marriage equality, USA Today reports.

According to a new poll by Monmouth University/Asbury Park (N.J.) Press, 30 percent of New Jersey residents surveyed said Christie was doing an above-average job when it comes to gay marriage, while 31 percent said he was doing a below-average job, which adds up to an average grade of C, USA Today writes.

"It's a middling grade," Monmouth University pollster Patrick Murray said. "It's an average grade, but the key thing there I think is that it's an elective subject as far as most voters are concerned. It's not part of his core curriculum when they judge how he's doing his job."

He added that New Jersey residents don't find marriage equality to be one of the top issues.

The poll also found that 20 percent of respondents said they could not give Christie a letter grade on same-sex marriage.

"It's an indication of, 'Whether I agree or disagree with him, I'm not really following this issue. This is not an important issue,' " Murray said. "This is like his grade for gym as far as most voters are concerned."

Author and retired teacher from Lincroft, N.J., said that Christie's stance on gay marriage is "not so hot. If they want to get married, let them get married," USA Today reports.

The poll also found that New Jersey residents gave Christie an average grade when it comes to job creation, with 36 percent of people surveyed giving him a C.

In February 2012, the New Jersey Senate in the Assembly approved a measure that granted same-sex couples the right to tie the knot, but Christie vetoed the legislation the next week and called for a November referendum, which allows voters to decide whether gay marriage should be legalized.

Christie, however, has signed a bill in Aug. that prohibits licensed therapists from trying to turn gay youth straight, which made New Jersey the second state to ban conversion therapy. California was the first.