A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely New Jersey Voters finds Obama capturing 49 percent of the vote, while Christie earns 44 percent support. Five percent prefer some other candidate in the race, and three percent are undecided.

Nationally, the president holds a 43 percent to 35 percent lead over the first-term Republican governor among Likely U.S. Voters.

Christie insists he is not seeking the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, but one of those who is, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, runs a similar race with the president in New Jersey. Obama leads Romney 49 percent to 43 percent. Given this matchup, five percent like another candidate, and three percent are undecided.

Among all likely voters nationwide, Obama bests Romney 45 percent to 40 percent.

In every matchup tested so far this year, the president’s national support has stayed between 42 percent and 49 percent.