New Jersey Governor: With a Week to go … Republican Christie 46%, Democrat Corzine 43%

With a week to go, the most recent Rasmussen poll has Republican challenger Chris Christie with a three point lead over incumbent Democrat Governor Jon Corzine. Wow, if Republicans ever pulled off this victory in such an overwhelmingly blue state like New Jersey, the effects would be felt all the way down the Jersey Pike to Washington, DC.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in New Jersey show Christie with 46% of the vote and Corzine with 43%. While the margin is little changed from a week ago and the week before, the biggest news may be that support for independent candidate Chris Daggett has dropped four points to seven percent (7%). The number of undecided voters is down to four percent (4%).

Here is an interesting bit from the polls with regards to who is certain or likely to show up to vote and who they would support. In an off, off year election, what are the odds that there will be much motivation to vote? Barack Obama is not on the ticket and many of his actions lately have depressed many of those who voted for him in 2008.

Christie leads by eight points among those who are certain they will show up and vote. A week ago, he was up by five among that group. Christie’s supporters are also less likely to say they might consider voting for someone else.

Corzine does better among voters who might not make it to the polls. That’s one reason President Obama, former President Bill Clinton and other Democratic Party luminaries are spending time in the Garden State in hopes of encouraging turnout.  

Democrat Jon Corzine might be a casualty of being an incumbent Democrat with a bad economy and high unemployment. How does one win with a 57% unfavorable rating?

Corzine is now viewed favorably by 41% and unfavorably by 57%. Those numbers are unchanged from a week ago.

Christie’s totals are 49% favorable and 49% unfavorable, generally the same as last week.