Christie, ranked 11th among the 17 candidates in a national CNN/ORC Poll that was released Tuesday, has tried to make education a major issue in the Republican presidential contest as he visits key early voting states. But his efforts haven’t gained much traction with voters. Christie on Wednesday hit on themes popular with conservative voters — including ending Common Core, the federal education standards imposed on states — as he worked to move the needle in New Hampshire, the crucial first-in-the-nation primary state where he has spent significant time but struggles in the polls.
Later in the day, Christie went to New Boston, where he held a town hall event in a grassy field, along a stream behind Molly’s Tavern and Restaurant, with more than 100 people sitting on picnic tables and folding chairs as he spoke about national defense and the need to overhaul Social Security. While the governor touts that he’s held more town halls than any other candidates, he wasn’t the only one holding such an event. Donald Trump, the GOP front-runner; Bush; Ohio Gov. John Kasich; businesswoman Carly Fiorina and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker all held town halls in New Hampshire on Wednesday.
