No Chris Christie boost for Romney in NJ

http://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/

Even though Chris Christie's job approval is at a high-water mark, Quinnipiac University finds he wouldn't do much to put his home state in play as a vice presidential candidate:

President Barack Obama leads former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney 49 – 40 percent in the New Jersey presidential race, a lead that shrinks to 49 – 42 percent if Gov. Christopher Christie runs as Romney’s vice presidential pick, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

There is a large gender gap with or without Gov. Christie on the ticket. Men would vote for a Romney-Christie ticket 50 – 42 percent, while women would vote for President Obama and Vice President Joseph Biden 55 – 35 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Independent voters split 42 – 42 percent.

There's always a limit to what vice presidential candidates can do for their party's ticket, and Quinnipiac has found comparable results for Rob Portman and Bob McDonnell. And Christie's unique brand -- which has served him well in New Jersey and nationally, so far -- may be a bit harder to translate in the context of a two-person ticket.