NJ Voters Say ‘Show Me The Money’ Before Promising A Tax Cut [VIDEO/AUDIO]

Governor Chris Christie wants the guarantee of a tax cut now, but Democrats who control the legislature want to wait until it is certain that the state can afford one.

Today's Quinnipiac University poll shows 52% of New Jersey voters say they support the Democratic plan to delay a vote in the State Legislature for a possible tax cut until they see if tax revenues are strong enough to support such a cut. 39% percent agree with Christie that the time is now.

"It's been obscured by the focus on the presidential election, but taxes remain a live New Jersey issue," says poll director Mickey Carroll. "In the tax cut debate, Christie's vote-to-cut-now plan loses to the legislative Democrats' wait-and-see position."

The question of the timing of the tax cut is about the only news in the survey that isn't positive for the Governor. New Jersey voters approve 56% - 38% of the job Christie is doing and say 52% - 40% that he deserves another term.

Christie's approval rating is up from a 53% - 42% score in a September 5 survey just after he delivered the keynote address at the Republican National Convention, but shy of his 59% - 36% all-time high score April 11.

In a sneak peek at the 2013 election for Governor, Christie leads Newark Mayor Cory Booker, a possible Democratic challenger, by a narrow 46% - 42%.

Carroll says, "Newark Mayor Cory Booker could give Governor Christie a run for his money, if the mayor decides to run."

Christie runs better against other possible Democratic challengers. He tops State Senator Dick Codey, the frequent fill-in governor, 47% - 41%; bests State Senator Barbara Buono 49% - 33%; and beats Assembly Democratic Leader Lou Greenwald 50% - 31%.

"Let's see how the field shapes up if Booker takes a pass," says Carroll. "Each of the possible challengers draw 60 to 74% of the Democratic vote, in this very blue state, with State Senator Richard Codey a bit stronger than State Senator Barbara Buono or Assembly member Lou Greenwald."

From October 10 - 14, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,405 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.6 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones.