Since his inauguration in January of 2009, New Jersey governor Chris Christie’s poll numbers have been all over the place. But it was nice to see the latest Quinnipiac poll showing that, post- budget battle, the Trenton Thunder is more popular than Barack Obama in the deep-blue Garden State:

New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie is winning the hearts and minds of New Jersey voters who approve 51 – 36 percent of the job he is doing and say 51 – 39 percent that the Governor is more a “leader” than a “bully,” according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. But voters also say 46 – 43 percent that he is “confrontational” rather than “honest and refreshing.”
That’s an improvement on all three measures over a June 17 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University when voters split 44 – 43 percent in their job approval and 44 – 43 percent over whether he was a “leader” or a “bully.” Voters in June said 52 – 38 percent that Gov. Christie was “confrontational” rather than “honest and refreshing.”

Meanwhile, President Obama sits at an all-time low split of 47/47 among New Jerseyans.

You know what I think was the deciding factor for Christie? The National Review cover story.