HANOVER, N.H. — Chris Christie, former New Jersey Governor, achieved the support of 80,000 donors needed to qualify for the fourth Republican presidential debate in December, aiming to stay on the stage despite the suspension of his rival Tim Scott’s campaign following last week’s debate.
Christie’s campaign reported a significant surge in organic support after his strong performance at the third debate last week. They’ve seen the best week of new donors since he announced, bringing in thousands of new donors in just a few days.
A flash poll conducted after the Republican debate in Miami revealed a substantial increase in Christie’s favorability ratings. However, additional time is needed for other polls to confirm this finding either at a national or early-voting state level.
Christie’s campaign insists that his message is resonating with voters: “Christie is the only candidate with the courage to consistently tell the hard truths about Donald Trump and make the case for the serious leadership needed for these serious times.”
While Christie has achieved the donor threshold, he still has to clear the Republican National Committee’s polling thresholds to qualify for the fourth debate. The campaign cited two national polls that Christie believes meets the RNC criteria, although both could run afoul of the RNC’s rules.
Despite these challenges, Christie is aiming to stay in the 2024 campaign through at least the early states, even as some rivals have dropped out in recent weeks. However, he still has to hit at least 6% in a national survey or a poll from another early state that aligns with the RNC’s methodological criteria.
Additionally, four other candidates appear to have met the RNC’s donor and polling requirements, but some are not expected to attend the upcoming debate. The spotlight remains on Christie and his determination to qualify for the fourth GOP debate.
For the original article, visit NBCNews.com
