Christie, Corzine a Point Apart in N.J., While Daggett Fades

While Christie and Corzine are running evenly as they were in this poll two weeks ago, Daggett's support has tailed off from 14 percent to 8 percent.

Monmouth/Gannett says a key factor in the race has been the "vacillations" of independent voters. Christie leads Corzine by 51 percent to 29 percent among them, while Daggett's share has dropped from 22 percent two weeks ago to 10 percent.

"Independents voters are simply unhappy with the job Governor Corzine has done over the past four years," said Monmouth's Patrick Murray. "After a brief flirtation with Daggett's candidacy, many seem to have returned to Christie as their best chance for change."

Republicans are also seeing Daggett less favorably. He had a 29 percent to 15 percent positive ratio in mid-October, but now is seen unfavorably among them by 30 percent and favorably by 18 percent.

Christie appears to have rebounded from the negative turn in his favorability ratings. In the last poll, 41 percent saw him unfavorably compared to 40 percent favorably, and now his favorability ratio stands at a positive 44 percent to 36 percent. There hasn't been much change for Corzine who continues to be viewed unfavorably - a negative 49 percent to 39 percent ratio in this poll.

Christie had been pounded by Corzine's negative ads, but Murray said that while they may have worked for a while, "there is also a tipping point where too many negative ads can backfire."

Seventy-three percent of voters say Corzine has unfairly attacked Christie while 54 percent say Christie has unfairly attacked Corzine.

"This election will be defined by turnout like few others before it," Murray said. "Many Democrats are sitting on the sidelines and not considered to be likely voters at this point. They may be unenthusiastic about their governor, but can they be prodded to the polls for other reasons? If not, Christie may eke out the win."