Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie received one of his lowest approval ratings ever from fellow New Jersey residents, and his potential presidential bid doesn't appear positive against Hillary Clinton.

A Quinnipiac University poll revealed New Jersey residents gave Christie a 46 percent job approval rating, narrowly ahead of the 45 percent disapproval rating. The latest job approval rating is a decline from August's 49 percent approval and 47 percent disapproval. The latest figures are not far from his lowest job approval rating of 44 percent from June 2011.

Christie's job approval rating is higher among men than women, 58 percent and 43 percent, respectively. More women disapprove of the governor's performance with 48 percent than men's 42 percent.

"Just 11 months after Christie's 60 - 38 percent reelection victory, his job approval is evenly divided," Quinnipiac University Poll Assistant Director Maurice Carroll said. "How come? The news media continues to mention Bridgegate and the reality of the state's huge pension problem is beginning to sink in. The blue-ribbon citizen commission will soon make recommendations and that ominous word, 'taxes' is starting to show up in the discussions."

Christie's highest approval rating was 74 percent, which occurred twice on Quinnipiac's polling records in January and February 2013.

Christie also encountered problems in hypothetical presidential election race with former New York Sen. Hillary Clinton. If the 2016 presidential election was held today between Clinton and Christie, the former Secretary of State would win New Jersey's electoral college votes with 50 percent of the poll compared to the governor's 40 percent.

Favoritism between Christie and Clinton split between gender lines. Men narrowly favored Christie with 46 percent to Clinton's 43 percent. Women were in the majority for Clinton with 56 percent while 36 percent supported the New Jersey governor.

"The adopted daughter next door whips the native son when it comes to presidential politics in New Jersey," said Carroll. "Gov. Christopher Christie gives former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton more of a battle in New Jersey, but a huge lead among women voters keeps the lady from Chappaqua, New York, ahead of the home-state governor."

Compared to Quinnipiac's February 2013 poll, Clinton was only 4 percentage points ahead of Christie with 49 percent to 45 percent, respectively.

New Jersey residents were also surveyed on Clinton's presidential bid against other potential Republican candidates. Against former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Clinton received most of the votes with 53 percent to 32 percent. Clinton led the poll among Democrats, Independents and male and female voters.

If Clinton faced Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky, she improved her odds to win New Jersey. Clinton received 55 percent while Paul garnered 31 percent. Clinton also won the poll among Democrats, Independents and men and women.

"The other Republicans hardly register," said Carroll. "Sure, it's a blue state but, beyond that, New Jersey women voters don't like former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush or Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky at all."

The Quinnipiac University poll comprised of 1,475 registered voters between Sept. 25 and Sept. 29.

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