Gov. Christie upside down in another poll

On Monday, the Quinnipiac University Poll showed just 38 percent of New Jersey voters approve of the job Gov. Chris Christie is doing while 56 percent disapprove, Christie's lowest rating ever. Tuesday, a new Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind poll revealed similar numbers.

"Right now a third, or 36 percent, say they approve of the governor, with an even half who disapprove," said Krista Jenkins, professor of political science at FDU and director of PublicMind. "He's upside down with almost every group: men, women, whites, people of color, union and non-union households, and every age group."

In a February poll, the numbers were almost the same, with disapproval at 51 percent and approval at 35 percent. In the latest survey, Republicans are the only group that approves (57 percent) of the job Christie is doing.

As he readies himself for a likely presidential run, Christie is spending a lot of time outside of New Jersey. Jenkins said that is not helping him at home.

"The governor is trying to make friends in other states, perhaps because he has lost so many in New Jersey, and with his attention clearly elsewhere the public is frustrated with the state's problems that are languishing or growing worse," Jenkins said.

With Garden State voters so unhappy with Christie's job performance, it should come as no surprise that they're not thrilled with the prospects of a great future for the state.

"It's the same story, different day when it comes to how the state's overall health is perceived," Jenkins said. "Fifty-four percent say the state is headed down the wrong track, and 35 percent say the opposite."

The poll of 790 registered New Jersey voters was conducted by telephone with both landline and cellphones from April 13-19. The margin of error is +/- 3.5 percentage points.