GOP challenger Chris Christie has widened his lead vs. Gov. Jon Corzine in the race for New Jersey governor, a poll released today shows. The Quinnipiac University Poll found Christie leading the incumbent Corzine by 53 percent to 41 percent among likely voters. A June 10 Quinnipiac poll had Christie up by 10 points, 50 percent to 40 percent. The most recent polling was done after Corzine signed a $29 billion budget and spending plan that increased taxes and trimmed tax rebates. In a three-way matchup that includes independent Christopher Daggett, Christie leads Corzine 47-38 percent, with Daggett getting 8 percent. The telephone survey of 1,514 likely voters was taken July 8-12, and has a sampling error margin of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points. AP