Christopher Christie has a nine point lead in the race for Governor, 44%-35% over incumbent Jon Corzine, with Independent Christopher Daggett at 13%, according to a poll released by the North Carolina-based Public Policy Polling.  The firm polls mostly for Democratic candidates.

Corzine's favorables are upside-down at 33%-56, while Christie is at 45%-41%

The poll has Christie leading 48%-29% among independents; 74% of independents have an unfavorable view of Corzine.  Corzine is at just 64% among Democrats.

"It's unlikely at this point that Corzine's going to be able to convince voters to pick him because they like him," said Tom Jensen, a spokesman for the poll.  "And while his initial salvos against Christie have helped tighten the race, it hasn't been nearly enough."

"So he's going to need to do two things to pull this one out. First is hit Christie with something in October that has a stronger impact than any of the attacks so far. Corzine probably can't win unless more than half the voters have an unfavorable opinion of Christie too. And the second is to change the electorate by getting Democrats more excited about his candidacy," Jensen said.

Public Policy Polling surveyed 500 New Jersey voters from September 11-14 and has a margin of error of +/- 4.5%.

A Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey poll released two days ago had Christie ahead by eight percentage points.

Click here to view the poll.