Chris Christie skips work again

TRENTON – The joint editorial from the Asbury Park Press and five sister newspapers isn’t the first call for Gov. Chris Christie to resign from office. A majority of registered Garden State voters wanted the same thing last year.

Christie wasn’t on the job Wednesday after spending Super Tuesday on the presidential trail in Ohio, Kentucky and Florida with Donald Trump.

Fifty-four percent in a Rutgers-Eagleton poll last August wanted Christie to step down, citing the governor’s constant out-of-state political traveling, while 41 percent believed he should continue to serve.

The Press and the other papers this week said Christie should “do his long-neglected constituents a favor and resign as governor. If he refuses, citizens should initiate a recall effort."

Christie spent part of 261 days out of state last year for his now-suspended presidential campaign and has taken flight again in recent days to support his new endorsement of former rival Trump.

The joint editorial spurred activity on an existing online petition demanding Christie’s resignation. “Recall Governor Chris Christie’’ now has more than 3,200 signatures after about 50 were added Wednesday.

“I'm tired of my tax dollars paying for him to spend more days out of NJ than in and to campaign for others,’’ wrote Candice Guinan of Brick on the petition.

Meanwhile, a website aimed at Christie — DoYourJobOrQuit.com — was started by a super PAC connected to Middletown resident Phil Murphy, who is expected run for governor as a Democrat next year.

“It’s time for @GovChristie to make a choice: Do the job or quit,’’ Murphy tweeted.

For a recall election, 25 percent of state registered voters – over 1 million — would have to sign actual petitions to trigger a vote.

A schedule for Wednesday from the Governor’s Office identified Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno as “acting governor,’’ indicating that Christie was still on the road outside New Jersey.

Christie attended Trump political rallies in Ohio, Kentucky and Florida on Tuesday. Christie spokesman Kevin Roberts did not reply to an inquiry on when Christie would be back in New Jersey.

Rutgers-Eagleton pollster Ashley Koning said “it’s anybody guess’’ as to how Christie will react to resignation calls or recall pushes.

Christie ended his presidential campaign Feb. 10 and New Jerseyans “thought we had the governor back,’’ Koning said. “Some of his favorability ratings on different topics showed a slight uptick, and then everything hit the fan with the Trump surprise on Friday. The past few days have been a whirlwind for him and New Jersey.’’

“At this point New Jersey residents are probably going to wait and see if Christie cares about them,’’ Koning said.

Bob Jordan 609-984-4343, bjordan@gannettnj.com