Chris Christie Still Leads in NH, Jeb Bush and Rand Paul Tied in Second

A poll released Thursday shows Republicans with ties to the Sunshine State in position in New Hampshire, home of the first presidential primary, if Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey -- currently under scrutiny after it was revealed members of his administration caused traffic nightmares regarding closing lanes near the George Washington Bridge as political payback -- slips.

Democratic pollster Public Policy Polling (PPP) released a poll which shows Christie leading in New Hampshire with 24 percent followed by former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida and U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., tied for second with 12 percent each. PPPs last look at the 2016 Republican primary in New Hampshire found Paul leading with 20 percent followed by Christie with 19 percent.

Former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, who moved to Florida after his 2008 presidential bid, took 11 percent followed by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, with 9 percent and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., with 8 percent.

Other candidates follow in low single digits. U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., takes 4 percent while two governors -- Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and Scott Walker of Wisconsin -- garner 3 percent apiece.

When Huckabee is taken out of the mix, Christie and Ryan are helped more than the other candidates, while Rubio garners no additional support. In that scenario, Christie leads with 28 percent followed by Bush and Paul still tied for second with 14 percent each. Cruz moves up to 10 percent while Pauls support more than doubles to 9 percent. Rubio stays at 8 percent while Jindal and Walker remain in the rear with 4 percent each.

New Hampshire Republicans are following the Christie controversy with more than two-thirds of those surveyed -- 68 percent -- saying they have heard a lot about it.

The poll of 528 New Hampshire Republicans was taken from Jan. 9-12 and had a margin of error of +/- 4.3 percent.