(CNN) – With eight days left until voters go to the polls, a new survey suggests that New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine has opened up a 9 point lead over his Republican challenger, former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie. Most polls in New Jersey over the past month have indicated that the race between Corzine and Christie was tied or within the margin of error, with Independent candidate Chris Daggett polling in the low double digits.
But according to a Suffolk University poll released Monday, 42 percent of likely Garden State voters back Corzine, while 33 percent support Christie and 7 percent back Daggett. Fourteen percent of those questioned said they are undecided.
"That 14 percent figure is high compared to other recent New Jersey polls, which have shown the undecideds closer to six or seven percent," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "That may account for some of the difference between the Suffolk poll and others. If Christie voters are hiding in the undecided category, that may mean a closer race than the poll indicates."
The poll also suggests that regardless of how whom they support, nearly six in ten voters believe Corzine will win - double the amount of people who think Christie will come out on top.
The Suffolk University of Massachusetts poll was conducted October 22-25, with 400 likely New Jersey voters questioned by telephone. The survey's sampling error is plus or minus 4.9 percentage points.