The majority of registered Garden State voters disapprove of the job Gov. Chris Christie is doing.  The governor's approval numbers are at the lowest since he took office, according to a new poll.

Gov. Chris Christie answers a question during his town hall meeting in Moorestown Wednesday. (Governor's Office/Tim Larsen)
Gov. Chris Christie answers a question during his town hall meeting in Moorestown Wednesday. (Governor's Office/Tim Larsen)
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In the latest Fairleigh Dickinson University-PublicMind poll released Tuesday, the majority of New Jerseyans also said the state itself is on the wrong track.

"Right now, 35 percent approve of his job performance with 51 percent who disapprove. This is the lowest approval and the highest disapproval for the governor that we've registered since he took office in 2009," said Krista Jenkins, professor of political science and director of PublicMind, Fairleigh Dickinson's survey research center. "In January, 39 percent approved and 47 disapproved."

A breakdown of the governor's ratings include:

  • Republicans, 55 percent approve; 31 disapprove;
  • Democrats, 23 percent approve ; 68 percent disapprove;
  • Independents, 33 percent approve; 47 percent disapprove;
  • Women, 33 percent approve; 51 percent disapprove;
  • Men, 38 percent approve;  51 percent disapprove.

"A third say that the state is headed in the right direction with half who say it's way off track," Jenkins explained. "As with his approval numbers it's only among Republicans that the state seems to be doing okay (45 percent right direction, 37 percent wrong track)."

Voters were split when asked what they like and dislike about the governor. Almost 3-in-10 (29 percent) said they find his policy positions and personality appealing with 35 percent who said the exact opposite.

"Problems in the state are clearly taking their toll on public perceptions of the governor's leadership. A budget address that attempted to hit the reset button on his administration's attempt to find a solution to the gaping pension hole appears to have done little to assuage the concerns of those who look to our state's chief executive for a solution," Jenkins said.

Voters were also asked their opinions of President Barack Obama and the overall direction of the country:

·    Forty-four percent approve of the job Obama is doing
·    Forty-one percent disapprove
·    Thirty-seven said the nation is headed in the direction
·    Fifty-two percent said the country is on the wrong track

The survey of 790 registered voters in New Jersey was conducted by telephone with both landline and cell phones from Feb. 23 through March 1, 2015. The margin of error is +/- 3.5 percentage points.

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