Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has passed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in a poll of Republican Primary voters in New Hampshire.
The Emerson College poll shows former President Donald Trump leading at 49%. Christie was second at 9% and DeSantis at 8%.
A different survey in July — the Granite State poll, a States of Opinion Project conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center — showed Trump at 37%, DeSantis at 23%, and Christie at 6% in the state’s GOP presidential primary.
“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.”
Another poll indicates that the national race for second place behind Trump among GOP voters is not limited to DeSantis. The Kaplan Strategies survey shows entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy passing DeSantis.
The poll reflects that 48% of likely Republican Primary voters support Trump, while 11% support Ramaswamy and 10% favor DeSantis. Former Vice President Mike Pence took fourth place in the poll, favored by 8% of likely voters, followed by Christie and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley at 4% each.
“Since our prior poll a few weeks ago, we’ve observed President Trump’s unwavering stronghold. Vivek Ramaswamy’s ascent to second place and Gov. DeSantis’ pursuit, closely followed by Vice President Pence’s advances, have shaped the dynamics,” said Doug Kaplan, president of Kaplan Strategies.
“The forthcoming debate is anticipated to illuminate the primary contender landscape, providing greater clarity,” he added.
Christie has been critical of Trump on the campaign trail, especially in reference to the former president’s recent indictments.
“I think all of these things are things people are going to have to process for the very first time in a presidential race,” Christie told ABC News.
“And what I think Republican voters have to ask themselves is two things: First is, is he really the guy — under indictment in four different cases — given the conduct that he committed, someone who can beat Joe Biden or any other Democrat in November 2024? And when are we going to stop pretending that this is normal?” Christie said.