Gov. Christie Gets Decent Grades In Two New NJ Polls

TRENTON, NJ (CBS) - New Jersey governor Chris Christie fares rather well in a pair of newly released polls in the Garden State.

One year into his term, registered voters are giving Christie a pair of "thumbs ups."

Quinnipiac University polling director Mickey Carroll says the governor is faring particularly well in the central part of the state -- "52 to 40 (percent), not a bad number" -- although his 49-45 approval numbers in South Jersey aren't too shabby either.

Christie also fares well statewide among independents in both the Quinnipiac poll and one by Monmouth University, where Patrick Murray is the polling director.

"Among registered voters, it's 49 percent to 41 percent who say that he's doing a good job," Murray notes.

Monmouth's survey gives Christie good grades for cutting costs and dealing with public schools, but not so well with bringing property taxes down.

And if that doesn't change, Murray suggests, Christie will get the lion's share of the blame.

Reported by David Madden, KYW Newsradio 1060.