NJ Poll Tells Gov. Christie: Forget White House Run For Now

TRENTON, NJ (CBS) -- The latest Quinnipiac poll suggests that New Jersey residents, on the whole, would rather see their governor stay in office rather than give in to all the political speculation that he'd be the perfect Republican presidential candidate in a couple of years (see related story).

Gov. Chris Christie has said to anyone who asks that his running for president in 2012 is out of the question. He says he's far more focused on state matters right now.

And six out of ten respondents in the Quinnipiac poll agree with that decision, according to poll director Maurice Carroll.

"That Christie for President chatter in the national media?  Nah.  New Jerseyans think it's more political gossip than a serious possibility," he explains.

Still, Christie has left the door open for 2016 (see related story). The poll did not address that.

He's got a 51 percent approval rating almost a year into his term, with two thirds of those surveyed giving him at least a passing grade on the A to F scale.

By contrast, President Obama's approval number in New Jersey is at 46 percent -- his lowest ever -- with the state's two US senators not that far behind, and Assembly and state Senate members coming in under 30 percent.

Reported by David Madden, KYW Newsradio 1060.