Christie lags pack of potential GOP presidential candidates, poll finds

A Monmouth University poll of Republicans nationwide indicates that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie could have a hard time getting his party’s nomination for president.

Thirteen percent of the Republicans surveyed favor Jeb Bush as the GOP nominee; Ted Cruz and Scott Walker both scored 11 percent; and Mike Huckabee has the support of 9 percent.

Poll director Patrick Murray says only 5 percent want Christie as the party’s candidate. What’s more, the governor’s negative ratings among Republican voters have increased since December.

“We’re getting to the point now where there’s a potential for a major embarrassment, not just simply being competitive and then losing, but getting wiped out very much early on in the game,” Murray said, “So that’s something, I think, Chris Christie is going to take into account right now before he gets in.”

Christie has said he’ll decide on whether to enter the race by late spring or early summer.