New polls show Christie has plenty of ground to make up

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Gov. Chris Christie may now officially be a candidate for president after announcing his decision Tuesday, but two new polls released Wednesday show he’s still trailing the pack of other Republican contenders.In a Quinnipiac University Poll of Iowa Republicans, Christie finished 15^th out of 16 total candidates, with just 1 percent support. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker led the poll with 18 percent and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush notched 8 percent support.

Only former New York Gov. George Pataki finished worse than Christie.

RELATED: Christie declares he’s running for president

“Gov. Jeb Bush’s formal announcement seems to have inched up his standing, while New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie may think making his candidacy official will help him climb out of the caucus basement,” said Peter Brown, the poll’s assistant director.

The governor also tied for 10^th place overall among likely Republican candidates in a new CNN/ORC International Poll, in which just 3 percent of voters said they would support Christie for the party’s nomination.

Bush led the poll with 17 percent support. Tied with Christie were U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Ohio Gov. John Kasich.

Christie must position himself within the top 10 of an average of polls in order to secure a spot at the party’s first primary debate next month, hosted by Fox News. 

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