Christie Keeps Fingers Crossed As Iowa Caucuses Approach

TRENTON, NJ (CBS) -- The Iowa Caucuses are set for Monday night, the first real sign of voter sentiment going into this year's Presidential sweepstakes.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie took a break from his campaign for the Republican nomination to return to Trenton this week, and spoke with reporters briefly on what he expects as voters finally go to the polls.

Over more than a year, Christie's spent far more time in New Hampshire and Iowa than he has in the state he runs, and he's gotten a lot of criticism for it.

Is it paying off? Consider how his supporters spent the early part of this month.

"Our campaign in New Hampshire knocked on 23 thousand doors in two weekends," Christie said. "And of those 23 thousand doors, 62 percent of the people said they were still undecided."

They, at least, have another week to make up their minds. Iowa is front and center this weekend, explaining why Christie has spent most of this week there, leaving it to surrogates, including his wife, to campaign in New Hampshire.

"That's a significant number of people and a lot of fluidity in the electorate," Christie said in referring specifically to New Hampshire. "I have no idea what it's ultimately going to look like. That's why they hold elections."

Pundits suggest Republicans who come out of either state in the top three tier might be able to carry on. Christie has picked up some key endorsements in New Hampshire that could help him although so far, that help has been limited. In fact, his poll numbers in both states have ranged in the low single digit range.