State Sen. Sandra Cunningham (D-Jersey City) does not rule out voting for Gov. Chris Christie's $29.3 billion budget.

"I haven't really decided yet," Cunningham told PolitickerNJ.com. "I'm trying to figure that out."

Fearful of the governor's cuts to social programs and the overall impact of Christie's nearly $11 billion shredding to state costs as he tries to close a budget gap, Cunningham said she is right now leaning against voting for the budget.

"But at this point, I don't know," she said.

Political insiders are observing Cunningham with particular interest through the budget process.

In order to pass his 2011 budget in the upper chamber, Christie needs four Democratic Party votes to add to the 17 Republicans to get to a majority in the 40-member state Senate.  

A friend of Cunningham's late husband (Jersey City Mayor Glenn Cunningham), Christie selected the Jersey City senator as a member of his gubernatorial transition team.

During the election last year, Cunningham struggled publicly to project enthusiasm for incumbent Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine, who lost to Republican Christie.