byronic:

When Bruce Springsteen wrote Born to Run more than 30 years ago, it is a safe bet that the eventual destination he had in mind in his anthem to youthful hopes was not the governor’s residence.

But a poll suggests he would romp home in a race against the Republican incumbent in New Jersey, Chris Christie.

The Public Policy Polling survey ties the two on 42% but gives Springsteen much higher favourability ratings.

The survey, conducted from 15-18 July, added Springsteen for fun to a list of possible Democratic challengers to Christie.

Although Springsteen has not indicated plans to stand, the New Jersey native is highly political, having campaigned for John Kerry and Barack Obama in the 2004 and 2008 White House elections, and has been openly critical of Christie.

The Republican governor, who was talked about as a potential Republican presidential candidate earlier this year, has seen his political fortunes dive. Christie is a big Springsteen fan, claiming to have seen him live 125 times, and asked him to perform at his inauguration as governor in 2009. Springsteen declined.

PPP, in a press release, said that if Springsteen was to stand and came across as a credible candidate, he could see a rise in the 42% recorded in the poll. “Springsteen has favourability numbers any politician would die for,” PPP said.

Springsteen, who lives in New Jersey, wrote to New Jersey’s Asbury Park Press earlier this year complaining about Christie’s budget cuts.

“The cuts are eating away at the lower edges of the middle class, not just those already classified as in poverty, and are likely to continue to get worse.”

When Springsteen refused to play at Christie’s inauguration and criticised his opposition to same-sex marriages, Christie joked that it had been two bad decisions by the rock star.

“Bruce and I don’t agree on certain things politically – big shock,” Christie said. “But it doesn’t diminish at all my enjoyment of him as an artist and a performer.”

Before anyone says he was “born to run”, I will put it in writing that I’d get US citizenship and move to New Jersey just to vote for Bruce.