Dear Commons Community,

Quinnipiac University’s latest poll examined the public’s reaction to how elected officials responded to  Hurricane Sandy.  The New York Times is reporting:

“…when it comes to assessing the response of elected officials to Hurricane Sandy, New Yorkers are giving the biggest thumbs-up to Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey.

That was one revelation in a poll released on Tuesday, the first survey to gauge the public’s reaction to the storm. While most government entities got high marks, Mr. Christie was the brightest star, with 89 percent of city voters saying he did a good or excellent job.

When asked which one of four officials had performed the best, 36 percent told Quinnipiac University that it was Mr. Christie, a Republican. The Democrat whom he engaged in a high-profile hug — President Obama — was selected by 22 percent, while the two who actually represent the respondents — Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, a Democrat, and Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, an independent — trailed with 15 percent and 12 percent, respectively.

“That love fest” between Mr. Christie and the president “seems to have moved voters especially,” said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. “While all four leaders get very high marks, it seems a hug or two never hurts.”

The survey of 1,165 New York City voters was conducted by phone between Nov. 14 and 18 with a margin of sampling error of three percentage points. It is unclear how many people in the hardest-hit areas who are still without power, or have been dislodged from their homes, were captured by the survey.

Tony