Gov. Christie Still Riding High in New Quinnipiac Poll [AUDIO]

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie holds onto a high 56 – 38 percent job approval rating despite his failure to make any gains in last week’s legislative elections, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

Republicans didn’t snag a single seat in the State Senate and they lost one in the Assembly. Today’s survey also asks voters what that might mean.

The Governor had a 58 – 38 percent approval in an October 12 survey. Approval is 90 – 8 percent among Republicans and 62 – 31 percent among independent voters. Democrats disapprove 66 – 28 percent. Men approve 60 – 35 percent and women approve 52 – 42 percent.

Referring to Christie’s minor two-point drop, poll director Mickey Carroll says, “It’s less than he had after his successful coping with the hurricane (Irene) and his run as the flavor of the month for Republicans for president for awhile….They went up when he was Republican flavor of the month for president and when he told everybody to get away from the seashore and they stay up.”

New Jersey Republicans say 47 – 32 percent that Christie did work hard enough to help elect Republican state legislators last week. All voters, however, are divided 46 – 48 percent that Christie’s failure to make Republican gains in the State Legislature means he will have trouble if he runs for reelection in 2013. Voters say 43 – 7 percent that Democrats’ success keeping control of the legislature means they are less likely to cooperate with Christie. Another 45 percent expect no difference.

Voters approve 70 – 18 percent of the way Christie handled the October snowstorm, with strong support among all groups and in all regions.

“Whether it’s his handling of the October snowstorm or just momentum, he’s still flying high,” says Carroll. “Women don’t like him as much as men, but his one-time huge gender gap has shrunk…… Did the election stand-off mean Christie will have a hard time if he runs again? Voters are divided, especially along party lines. Will he have trouble dealing with a more assertive Democratic legislature? Opinions are split here, too.”

New Jersey voters approve 51 – 41 percent of the way the state’s utilities handled the response to the snowstorm. The time needed to restore power was reasonable, 60 percent say, while 34 percent say it was too slow and there’s no excuse.

Carroll says, “Despite the loud howls of those without power, voters overall give the utilities a passing grade.”

On the national level, with leads of 9 to 23 points over possible Republican challengers, President Barack Obama starts his reelection year in a strong position in New Jersey, despite a lackluster 48 – 48 percent job approval rating.

Voters were asked about New Jersey two U.S. Senators as well. They say 44 – 37 percent that Bob Menendez deserves reelection in 2012 and give him a 43 – 34 percent job approval rating. Menendez beats an unnamed Republican challenger 47 – 35 percent. Voters approve 45 – 38 percent of the job U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg is doing.

From November 9 – 14, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,788 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.3 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones. The survey includes 548 Republicans with a margin of error of +/- 4.2 percent.