Early polling exhibits that Mr. Christie faces maybe a good steeper uphill climb than different candidates who’re polling with low single-digit help. He acquired 2 % in a late Might CNN ballot, as an illustration, tied for fifth place with Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina.
However of all of the Republican candidates within the ballot, the best share — 60 % — stated Mr. Christie was somebody they’d not help underneath any circumstance. That determine was 15 % for Mr. DeSantis and 16 % for Mr. Trump.
“You have a look at it objectively, it’s arduous to see a transparent lane for Chris Christie, being a Trump opponent after which a Trump acolyte and now a Trump opponent once more,” stated Neil Newhouse, a Republican pollster who’s unaligned within the 2024 race, although some companions at his agency are working with Mr. DeSantis. “There’s not a variety of room within the Republican voters for that proper now.”
Nonetheless, in an more and more crowded discipline of Republicans — former Vice President Mike Pence and Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota are additionally anticipated to affix the race this week — the Christie staff sees alternative by being the lone candidate excited about breaking so clearly with Mr. Trump.
Different lower-polling candidates have prevented criticizing the previous president aggressively, in an try to not flip off his supporters. Some, like Nikki Haley, the previous United Nations ambassador and governor of South Carolina, have most well-liked to take photographs at Mr. DeSantis, vying to emerge because the main Trump various by tackling him first. However Mr. Christie’s advisers see the trail to the nomination operating by way of Mr. Trump.