There’s more bad news for Gov. Corzine in a Rasmussen poll released this afternoon.  

The poll, commissioned by the television station My9, shows the Governor’s reelection prospects at their weakest so far, and comes on the heels of two recent independent polls that show Corzine trailing former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie by nine points.  

Christie  is 15 points ahead of Corzine in the Rasmussen poll, 49% to 34%,  in a head-to-head match up, while Christie’s Republican rival, Steve Lonegan, leads Corzine by eight points, 43% to 35%.  

Corzine’s approval ratings are low in the poll, with the largest number of respondents – 42% -- strongly disapproving of his job performance.  Twenty-four percent of respondents “somewhat disapprove” of Corzine, while  24% “somewhat approve” and eight percent “strongly approve.”  

Corzine’s favorability ratings are also upside down, with 54% of respondents either having a “very unfavorable” or “somewhat unfavorable” view of the Governor.

Christie, by contrast, was seen favorably by 52% of respondents – 16% “very favorable” and 36% “somewhat favorable” – while Lonegan was seen favorably by 45%.  Twenty-four percent of those polled weren’t sure how they felt about Christie, while 34% weren’t sure about Lonegan.  

The poll showed Barack Obama remaining popular in New Jersey, however, with 59% approving and 41% disapproving of his performance so far.

On the budget front, the public does not trust the Governor and state legislature to balance the state budget “in a manner that is good for New Jersey.”  Only 33% expressed confidence in that prospect, while 64% said they were not confident.

Rasmussen surveyed 500 likely voters on March 10 and had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5%.