The Hill News

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) enjoyed widespread popularity during his first year in office but a poll released Tuesday shows that is approval rating is beginning to slip.

Voters in the Garden State split 46-44 percent on Christie's job approval rating and 47 percent approve of his governing style opposed to 48 percent who disapprove, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll. 

{mosads}In a Quinnipiac poll released Nov. 9, Christie's job approval stood at 51-38 percent. 

Elected in 2009 on a reform agenda, Christie had launched into national political stardom in part of his blunt, off-the-cuff speeches that have become online hits. 

The new governor helped raise money for political candidates and state Republican parties during the 2010 midterm elections and some speculated that he ! could run for president.

Christie has repeatedly said he will not run for president in 2012, saying recently, "Short of suicide, I don’t really know what I’d have to do to convince you people that I’m not running."

But the poll indicates he still has to shore up his support at home. 

Voters are unhappy with his efforts to change the makeup of the state's "historically liberal Supreme Court," according to the poll, and gave him slightly negative ratings overall on eduction.

The governor recently caught some flack for canceling a long-planned $8.7 billion rail tunnel project between New Jersey and New York City in part due to its cost, but voters agreed with the decision 46-38 p! ercent. 

"Overall, New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie still gets a split decision. Democrats don't like him at all; Republicans like him a lot. His 'Jersey-guy' in-your-face governing style? An even split," Quinnipiac University Polling Institute director Maurice Carrolll said.