Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has jumped to second place among GOP presidential candidates, according to a recent poll of New Hampshire voters.
Christie ranked a point above Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis but remains a distant runner-up to former President Donald Trump, behind by 40 points, in the poll by Emerson College.
A month ago, Christie told USA TODAY he was confident in his New Hampshire chances, despite polling fourth at the time among GOP candidates and 17 points behind DeSantis in a Granite State Poll.
“I don't think I’ll ever be ahead in a poll in New Hampshire, until election night. But then I’ll win on election night in New Hampshire,” Christie told USA TODAY in July. “And everyone will be completely shocked.”
Christie’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Christie announced his bid for president in June. In a crowded field of GOP candidates vying to unseat a still-popular former president, Christie has been Trump’s most outspoken 2024 opponent.
“He’s a liar and a coward. He’s not getting indicted for anyone other than because of his own conduct,” Christie said on CNN’s “State of the Union” in July.
Trump then had two cases against him. Now, the former president faces four indictments, the latest coming from a Fulton County, Georgia grand jury Monday.
DeSantis was once thought to represent Republicans’ best chance of beating Trump. But months out from the first presidential primary in the Granite State, the Florida governor’s 2024 campaign has faced numerous setbacks and overhauls. Once polling at 23% and 14 points behind Trump in July, DeSantis had just 8% of the vote in this most recent poll, trailing Trump by 41 points.
Story by Savannah Kuchar, USA TODAY
