Either that or Pennsylvania voters in general and Pennsylvania independents specifically are extremely uninformed when it comes to politics and aren't even aware of the whole George Washington Bridge over Troubled Water scandal yet.
I'd think it would be more likely to be the reverse effect. Christie's name recognition is still only, what? 65-70% in the country as a whole? A candidate is inevitably going to poll better where their name recognition is higher, and it'll be higher in PA than the country as a whole, because of the Philly media market.
And for those people in media markets where Christie gets covered, the bridge scandal doesn't completely define him, the way it might in other parts of the country. Look at New Jersey itself, where Christie's name recognition is nearly 100%. His job approval ratings have taken a big hit, but they're still (slightly) net positive, even though it's a Democratic state. Why? Because they don't rate Christie on Bridgeghazi alone.
