For his 65th birthday, Springsteen gets his own Jersey poll

For most people turning 65, public notice is limited to the arrival of all those Medicare eligibility mailings. But if you're Bruce Springsteen, you get an entire public opinion poll all about you-- or at least what everyone in New Jersey thinks about you.

The Monmouth University/Asbury Park Press Poll devoted a seven-question survey to "The Boss," releasing it to mark his 65th birthday Tuesday. The questions and the responses have been sliced and diced to detect whatever correlations might exist between age, gender, ethnicity and Springsteen love as well as political affiliation and Springsteen love.

Springsteen himself skews Democratic, while his highest ranking New Jersey fan is Republican Gov. Chris Christie. Thirty-eight percent of those polled thought that was "kind of cool."

In keeping with Christie's ability to separate politics from music, 50 percent of Republican respondents hold a "favorable opinion of Springsteen, though Democrats top that with 56 percent.

Among the other findings:

• 80 percent of the respondents said they were aware of Springsteen's Jersey roots;
• 54 percent cited some measure of "pride" in Springsteen's New Jersey roots;
• 34 percent said they have some Springsteen in their personal music collections.

Why does a 65-year-old rock star merit this kind of attention in New Jersey? Perhaps it's because a state so often viewed for its negatives appreciates a celebrity who at least does no harm. Only one percent of the poll respondents said Springsteen's music "hurt" New Jersey's image, while 37 percent said it "helps."

On the other hand, 55 percent said it makes "no difference."

Kind of a classic Jersey shrug.

More coverage:

• Bruce Springsteen at 65 / The Star-Ledger
• Bruce Springsteen's Best Booty-Shaking Moments / Huffington Post
• Bruce Springsteen keeps on rocking as he turns 65 / CBS News
• Boss ways to celebrate Bruce Springsteen's birthday / Asbury Park Press