A new poll from Monmouth University puts Gov. Chris Christie's approval rating at 67 percent among all residents in the wake of Superstorm Sandy.

That number bumps slightly to 69 percent when only registered voters are factored in against 22 percent who disapprove of the job the governor is doing. Christie scored big among Republicans, 85 percent of whom approve of the job he's doing.  But this poll saw 57 percent of Democrats polled give the governor a thumbs up, the first time Christie has scored over 40 percent among Democrats.

The governor also got a positive mark from 52 percent of public worker households, the first time he has broken 50 percent during his tenure.

As the governor's re-election bid begins to take shape, just over 60 percent of voters say the governor deserves another term, up from 50 percent in September. 

Over 60 percent of residents say the governor is more focused on governing the state of New Jersey against 30 percent who say he is more concerned with his own political future.  This is a reversal from February of this year, when more residents said the governor put his own concerns (48%) before the state’s (39%).

“While the governor’s political ambitions are no secret, his constituents feel they do not necessarily detract from pursuing what is best for the state, especially when it comes to recovering from Sandy,” said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute.

A full 61% of state residents say the governor’s cooperation with President Obama during and after the storm will help the state in the long run.  Just 3% say it will hurt New Jersey and a third say it will have no impact. Exacxtly 60% say the governor's relationship with Obama will actually help the governor’s political future.  Only 5% believe Christie’s ambitions will be hurt by his courting of the president and 31% say it will have no impact. 

The poll was conducted by telephone with 816 New Jersey adults from Nov. 29 to Dec. 2, 2012.  This sample has a margin of error of + 3.4 percent.