A new poll released Thursday shows
openly gay presidential candidate Fred Karger tied at 1 percent with
former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
The
Zogby poll of 2012 GOP presidential candidates found Texas
Governor Rick Perry leading a 14-candidate field with 21 percent and
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie at 14 percent, despite the fact
that neither lawmaker has officially entered the race. Former Alaska
Governor Sarah Palin, also an undeclared candidate, raked in 4
percent.
The leading announced candidate is
Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, who trails Christie by 1 percent.
Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick
Santorum and former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty each received 2
percent.
Karger, who has been shut out of
previous presidential debates, said he was hoping to secure a spot on
Fox News' August 11 debate, which requires candidates score at least
1 percent in 5 national polls.
“We're almost there,” Karger said
in a statement. “This is now the 3rd poll in just the past couple
of months where I am averaging the magic 1%. For a first-time
candidate, who has not raised millions of dollars, I am ecstatic
about the results. Now we just need to score in 2 more polls and I
will be standing on the stage in Ames, Iowa next month with the other
candidates. As the only Independent Republican running, I look
forward to getting away from the divisive issues and talking about
the issues of concern to most Americans – jobs first, education
reform and getting out of Afghanistan and Iraq now. I have been at
this for 18 months and all that work is beginning to translate into
support.”
“We’re up from 0% just four weeks
ago,” he added.
Karger also recently announced that his
campaign has raised $267,000 in the past 12 months.