TRENTON -- The race to succeed Chris Christie as New Jersey's governor could be a blowout win for Democrat Phil Murphy, a poll released Wednesday shows.

And Christie's unpopularity could be a big reason.

Murphy, a former U.S. ambassador to Germany and former Goldman Sachs banking executive, holds a 25-percentage-point lead over his Republican rival, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, Christie's second in command since 2010 and a former Monmouth County sheriff, according to a Quinnipiac University Poll.

Murphy's 58 percent to 33 percent lead among likely voters cuts across every party, gender, education, age and racial group polled, except among New Jersey Republicans. Guadagno has 78 percent to 16 percent support among the GOP.

However, many New Jerseyans appear to not be paying much attention to the gubernatorial election less than two months away.

About 40 percent of likely voters don't know much about either candidate.

"As far as candidate qualifications go, New Jersey is holding a stealth election," Maurice Carroll, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll said.

"Each of them dominates among their own party's voters," he said. "But Murphy gets more Democrats and there are more of them to get in very blue New Jersey."

New Jersey had 2,048,311 registered Democrats and 1,209,127 Republicans as of April, according to the state Division of Elections. There are 2,402,244 voters who claimed no party affiliation.

Both candidates have an Achilles' heel. But Guadagno's time with Christie, who polls show is the state's most unpopular governor in modern times, carries more weight than Murphy's time with the unpopular Goldman Sachs.

Likely voters have a 37 percent to 18 percent favorable opinion of Murphy. But Guadagno gets a negative opinion, 25 percent to 33 percent.

"Working for Goldman Sachs hurts Murphy a little," Carroll said. "(But) serving as lieutenant governor to Gov. Chris Christie hurts Guadagno a lot more."

Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook.