Chris Christie’s campaign collects $1.65M in Q2.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie Raises $1.65 Million for 2024 Presidential Campaign

According to NBC News, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has raised an impressive $1.65 million for his 2024 presidential campaign in the second quarter of this year. The disclosure deadline for the quarter ending June 30 was on Saturday.

Christie, who recently announced his campaign, also shared exciting news this week. He has garnered support from over 40,000 donors, with at least 200 donors in 20 different states or territories. This puts him on track to qualify for the upcoming Republican presidential debate, which is just a little over a month away.

Impressive Fundraising Milestone

“Last night, we went past 40,000 unique donors in just 35 days,” Christie proudly revealed during an interview with Anderson Cooper on CNN. “And [to] give you some perspective because I ran eight years ago, in 35 days eight years ago, we had 5,000 donors. Over 40,000 donors now.”

Qualifying for the Republican Presidential Debate

Republican candidates must meet specific criteria set by the Republican National Committee to qualify for the debate. They need to poll at 1% in three qualifying national polls or two national polls and one qualifying early state poll from two separate states, including Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, or South Carolina. The first GOP presidential primary debate will take place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on August 23.

Controversial Pledge Requirement

The RNC is requiring presidential hopefuls who wish to participate in the GOP’s first primary debate to pledge their support for the eventual Republican nominee. However, Christie has expressed his disagreement with this rule, calling it a “bad idea” and stating that “the pledge is just a useless idea.”

Trump’s Uncertain Participation

Former President Donald Trump has yet to commit to the first Republican presidential primary debate. Sources close to him suggest that he may even consider launching an event to counterprogram the debate.

Christie’s Bold Claim

During an appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored, Christie, who previously supported and advised Trump, made a bold statement. He claimed that he would win in a UFC-style fight against the current GOP front-runner. “Oh, come on. The guy is 78 years old, I’d kick his a**,” Christie confidently declared. “I’ll fight Donald Trump anywhere he wants, in any arena he wants — whether it’s on a debate stage or in the octagon.”

Battleground State Polling

In the battleground state of New Hampshire, the latest polling shows Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) and Christie tied. According to American Pulse, DeSantis leads the former New Jersey governor by half a percentage point, with 10.5% to 10% support.

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