Gov. Jon Corzine is preparing to choose his candidate for lieutenant governor before the July 27 deadline.

Randal Pinkett who appeared on the reality television show ?The Apprentice,? is a potential candidate. Pinkett, an East Windsor native, has served as an executive with Trump Entertainment Resorts and holds academic degrees from Rutgers, Oxford, and M.I.T. universities.

A new poll from Quinnipiac University revealed that Chris Christie (R-NJ) holds a 12-point lead over Corzine. The governor, who has record-high disapproval ratings, is expected to spend more than $50 million on his re-election campaign.

AP wire reports contributed to this article.