Bruce Springsteen should run for New Jersey governor, claims poll

Bruce Springsteen would be hot favourite to become governor of New Jersey if he ran for the post, according to a poll conducted in the state.

The musician was added to a Public Policy Polling survey "for fun" and tied with current governor Chris Christie, receiving 42% of the vote.

"Springsteen has favourability numbers any politician would die for. 50% of voters see him positively to only 22% with an unfavourable opinion," a post on the organisation's blog reads.

"He has favourable numbers across party lines although perhaps because of his well known politics he's seen a good deal more positively by Democrats... than Republicans."

Springsteen said in early 2009 that he thought George W Bush's term as president was a "nightmare" and that "terrible things occurred" while he was in charge of the White House.

He encouraged Americans to vote for Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election.

Springsteen also attracted the highest approval ratings in the survey, beating five local politicians including Christie. 50% of those polled saying that they had a positive impression of him.

63% of Democrats rated the 61-year-old positively compared to 38% of Republicans.

A sample of 480 New Jersey residents took part in the poll.

Watch a video of Bruce Springsteen performing 'The Rising' at Barack Obama's pre-inauguration concert below: