Chris Christie looks for Iowa boost

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie joked in a Fox News interview that he might ride a pony when he arrives at the Iowa State Fair on Saturday — so he could outdo Donald Trump, who touched down at the fair last week in a helicopter.

“Yeah, a pony might be good,’’ Christie said.

But Christie has bigger concerns than trying to match Trump’s outlandishness. He’s slipping in the polls, putting him at risk of being knocked off the main stage when CNN televises the next prime-time Republican presidential debate.

Like the other presidential hopefuls who have visited the Iowa State Fair since it began Aug. 13, Christie will be tempted by treats such as corn dogs and deep-fried Snickers, but his visit “will be all about making sure the national media notices him,’’ said Tom Donelson, an Iowa businessman and Republican activist.

“He needs to come here to make sure he polls better nationally, so he can show up at the main debate with the big boys next month,’’ Donelson said.

Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide

The top 10 GOP candidates based on an average of polls will be in CNN’s main debate Sept. 16.

Christie was in the top 10 and on stage for the Fox News debate two weeks ago, but he has fallen to 11th in new CNN polling, bumped from the top tier by former business executive Carly Fiorina.

Fiorina, despite her surge, will be hard-pressed to replace Christie in the debate next month. CNN plans to base its selection on polls that date back to July 16, giving weight to Fiorina’s earlier lackluster showing. The cutoff for polls is Sept. 10.

Donelson, who says he’s yet to commit his support to a candidate, said Christie’s campaign could shed supporters and financial backing and be in “deep water’’ if he’s bumped by Fiorina.

“If Christie or anybody else drops out of the main debate cycle, that’s when people start hedging their bets,’’ Donelson said. “People start saying, ‘he’s gone, so I might as well go and pick another candidate.’ ’’

Christie booster Dick Anagnost, a New Hampshire real estate developer, said an opposite scenario of Christie becoming a factor in the race for the long run is more likely.

“He’s not Donald Trump but he’s pretty straightforward, like Trump is, and attacks problems head on and tells you exactly what he thinks,’’ Anagnost said of Christie. “That’s a refreshing thing. Ultimately I think New Hampshire voters will respond to that.’’

Christie will have a full day of fair activities Saturday. He will participate in the Des Moines Register's Soapbox, act as an honorary chef at the Iowa Pork Tent, tour the fair with Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, and attend several private meetings.

Iowa, as an early-deciding state, provides potential for underperforming presidential candidates, said David Redlawsk, a Rugers University professor who is on sabbatical in Iowa researching the state's caucus process and its impact on national politics.

“Because Gov. Christie is not doing well in the polling, he has the opportunity to do better than expected and beat media expectations here,’’ Redlawsk said. “It’s actually not as good to come to Iowa while you’re on top, compared to surprising everybody with a third- or fourth-place finish that carries you in the other early states.’’

Christie spent much of this week in New Hampshire. The trip to Iowa will be Christie’s 12th visit to the Hawkeye State over the last 2 1/2 years.