TRENTON -- It's not getting better for Gov. Chris Christie when it comes to how New Jerseyans feel about the outgoing executive. In fact, it could be getting worse, a new Rutgers-Eagleton poll released Thursday shows.

A growing majority of New Jerseyans, 73 percent, say the state is on the wrong track, according to the poll. That's higher than it was at the peak of the Great Recession.

Only 16 percent of residents have a favorable opinion of Christie, who has less than five months left in office. Similarly, only 16 percent of New Jerseyans approve of the job he's doing.

The governor has long lost the support of the state's Democrats and unaffiliated voters, which make up a majority of New Jersey's voting bloc. But making matters worse for the Republican governor, 50 percent of the state's GOP residents have an unfavorable view of him, according to the poll.

Only 35 percent of his base has a favorable view of him.

Christie continues to be the state's least popular since the 1970s, when Rutgers-Eagleton first began asking the question of favorability.

Christie dipped below former Govs. Brendan Byrne and Jim Florio, who each were down to 17 percent favorability during their terms.

According to Eagleton, Christie's approval has been on a steady decline since April 2016 and is now half of what it was upon his return home from his failed presidential campaign.

Christie's favorability falls below that of U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., who was indicted on corruption charges and will stand trial beginning next week.

Menendez has a 28 percent favorable rating compared to Christie's 16 percent. However, 21 percent of respondents told Eagleton they didn't know who Menendez was. Everyone Eagleton polled knew of Christie.

The poll was conducted between August 24 to 28 and surveyed 714 New Jerseyans, included 660 registered voters. Pollsters reached people on cell and landlines. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.8 percent.

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