Very interesting. It would appear that tax-cutting, union-fighting Republican governor Chris Christie has a significantly higher approval rating in New Jersey than liberal Democratic senator Bob Menendez. In fact, Christie’s approval rating is higher than Barack Obama’s, or any other statewide leader’s for that matter.

New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie gets decent grades from voters as he nears the end of his first year in office, with a 51 – 38 percent approval rating, higher than President Barack Obama or any other statewide leader, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today…

Christie is more of a leader than a bully, voters say 50 – 42 percent. But 48 percent say he is “confrontational,” while 43 percent say he is “honest and refreshing.”

His first year in office has been mainly a success, 52 percent of voters say, while 35 percent say it’s been mainly a failure. Christie is doing a better job than expected, 32 percent say, as 23 percent say he is doing a worse job and 42 percent say he is doing about as well as they expected.

New Jerseyans believe their governor when he says he won’t run for president in 2012. Which is good, because a majority also believe he’s not ready to be president.

That said, how is our current president doing in the blue state? Not well.

Still, Christie outscores President Obama, who gets a negative 46 – 50 percent approval rating in the Garden State, down from a 47 – 47 percent split in an August 19 Quinnipiac University poll and Obama’s worst score ever in the state.

And how about those liberal Democratic senators?

Voters are evenly divided on New Jersey’s two U.S. Senators, giving Sen. Frank Lautenberg a split 43 – 44 percent approval rating and giving Sen. Robert Menendez a slightly negative 38 – 41 percent score.

They’re both underwater in approval. And what do you know, Bob Menendez is up for re-election in 2012. But he’ll have the benefit of having the president on the ticket…wait. The president’s approval is underwater, too. So he’s vulnerable.

New Jersey Republicans should start looking for a stable person with limited past kooky statements to put up against Menendez. Hey, what’s Chris Christie got planned in 2012? Apparently he’s not running for president. But maybe United States Senate? Seeing his approval numbers, he at least has a chance.