In the first Monmouth University poll since he launched his presidential campaign, Gov. Chris Christie makes it into the top 10 with GOP primary voters in New Hampshire.

Gov. Christie at a town hall event in Derry, New Hampshire
Gov. Christie at a town hall event in Derry, New Hampshire (@ChrisChristie via Twitter)
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He trails Donald Trump by a significant amount and a closer look at the results made it clear that Christie's standing in the Granite State would be vastly improved if Trump dropped out.

"Chris Christie makes it in the top 10, but barely at 4 percent (and) this is a candidate who many voters in New Hampshire actually know the best," said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute. "When we asked New Hampshire voters if they have actually met any of the candidates 15 percent said that they have had the opportunity to meet some in person and about half that number (7 percent) say Chris Christie was the one they actually got a chance to speak with. By far he's the candidate New Hampshire voters know well."

When it came to support in the crowded Republican field, here's how New Hampshire voters weighed in:

  • 24 percent backed Trump;
  • 12 percent said Jeb Bush;
  • John Kasich at 7 percent;
  • Scott Walker received 7 percent;
  • Marco Rubio garnered 6 percent;
  • Ben Carson and Rand Paul tied at 5 percent;
  • Christie at 4 percent; and
  • Carly Fiorina and Ted Cruz got 3 percent

None of the other candidates poll at more than 2 percent to make it into the top 10. Murray said the "Trump Factor" was really impacting the Christie  results.

"Trump actually seems to hurt Christie. Our governor is the choice of 4 percent of voters up in New Hampshire, but when given a second choice 8 percent name him and a lot of them happen to be Trump supporters. In fact among people who support Trump, 15 percent say that they would go for Christie if Trump wasn't in the race," Murray explained.

That made Christie the leading candidate among Trump voters. That bump would give the governor another 3 or 4 percentage points which would move him into the top 5, Murray said.

"Trump is actually taking away some of Christie's 'telling it like it is' thunder," he said.

There was good news for the governor. His favorability rating is right side up. Forty-two percent had a favorable opinion of Christie while 40 percent viewed him unfavorably. That's in the middle of the pack.

The poll conducted by telephone from July 23 to 26, 2015 with 467 New Hampshire voters likely to vote in the Republican presidential primary.  This sample has a margin of error of +4.5 percent.

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