New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is enjoying unprecedented popularity among Garden State voters. According to the latest Fairleigh Dickinson/Public Mind poll, the Republican governor’s approval rate rests at a solid 56% — the highest it’s ever been.

For a GOP governor in Jersey, these numbers are huge. Pollster Peter Woolley remarked: “It’s hard to imagine that a minority party governor could really do much better. Unless maybe he runs into a burning building and rescues an old lady. But that trick has been taken,” he said, referring to Newark Mayor Cory Booker recent act of heroism.

Will Christie’s popularity help Romney score points this fall? Could New Jersey go red for the first time since 1992?

That latest presidential polls out of New Jersey have Mitt Romney trailing President Obama by about 9 points — 40-49 — with 11% undecided. This margin drops just slightly — to 42-49 — if Romney named Christie as his VP pick.