Gov. Chris Christie was edged out of the main stage at the next Republican presidential debate scheduled for Tuesday, delivering a major blow to his struggling campaign just as it began gaining momentum Watch video
SOMERSWORTH, N.H. -- Gov. Chris Christie was edged out of the main stage at the next Republican presidential debate scheduled for Tuesday, delivering a major blow to his struggling campaign just as it began gaining momentum.
The line was announced Thursday night on Fox Business just as Christie campaigned in New Hampshire, where the latest poll released early this month showed Christie's support growing.
But being knocked off the prime time debate threatens to strike down any momentum Christie could be gaining among voters.
"It certainly makes his job a lot harder," said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Poll.
RELATED: Christie lowers expectations he'll make main stage of next GOP debate
"Some of the establishment support is probably going to go to one of the three left on the main stage," he said. "It's not good."
Hours before the lineup was announced, Christie was asked his thoughts on why his national poll numbers weren't reflective of the positive reviews he received after last week's GOP debate in Boulder, Colorado.
"National polls at this time really don't have much of an effect on the race and so what I'm going to continue to do is just be myself," said Christie, at a campaign event at BAE Systems Inc., a defense contractor and one of New Hampshire's largest manufacturers.
"Whether that's on a stage, one stage in Milwaukee, a different stage in Milwaukee or whether you want to put podiums out here in front of BAE Systems and invite some people," he said. "I'll debate people wherever they want to debate on whatever the important issues, I think there are, for the country."
He added: "I look at the progress we've made in Iowa and the progress that we've made in New Hampshire and say that those are the people who are really paying attention right now, we're doing really well with those folks."
Asked whether he thought it would be more difficult to have a so-called breakout moment if he's sent to the undercard debate, Christie responded: "For me? It's never hard to be memorable, so I don't worry about that."
The debate sponsors had said those qualifying for the 9 p.m Eastern Standard Time contest needed to score an average of at least 2.5 percent based on of the four most recent national polls.
The candidates achieving who will debate on the main stage are:
Businessman Donald Trump, 25.3 percent
Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, 24.5 percent
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, 11.8 percent
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, 10 percent
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, 5.5 percent
Businesswoman Carly Fiorina, 3 percent
Ohio Gov. John Kasich, 2.8 percent
U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, 2.5 percent
Christie will face off against three other candidates in the 7 p.m. warm-up debate: former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and former U.S. Sen.Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania.
These four did not make the 2.5 percent threshold but received at least 1 percent support in at least one of the four most recent national polls.
Immediately after the lineup was announced, Christie brushed off being bumped out.
It doesn't matter the stage, give me a podium and I'll be there to talk about real issues like this: https://t.co/Fqu5Qi2piX #BringItOn
-- Chris Christie (@ChrisChristie) November 6, 2015
Christie downplayed the significance on being on the main stage on Thursday. But two days earlier, on Election Day, when asked in New Jersey about his prospects of being on the main stage, Christie said he was looking forward to debating the top-tier candidates next week in Milwaukee.
"You guys keep wondering about that and I'm three for three and I'll be four for four," Christie said.
"When I tell you 'I don't worry about it,' I don't worry about it," he said. "I do what I can do."
Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or on Facebook. Follow NJ.com Politics on Facebook.