NJ Governor And GOP Presidential Candidate Chris Christie Campaigns In New Hampshire

Gov. Chris Christie poses for a photo following a town hall meeting at the American Legion Dupuis Cross Post 15 July 1, 2015 in Ashland, New Hampshire. Christie announced his 2016 presidential candidacy on July 1. Those Garden State residents who can't make it to New Hampshire can do the same early next month in Asbury Park - for a considerably higher price. (Credit: Darren McCollester | Getty Images)

TRENTON -- Gov. Chris Christie's presidential campaign will launch its New Jersey fundraising operation early next month at the Asbury Convention Center, the same venue where Christie celebrated his reelection in 2013.

It was there where he famously boasted that "maybe the folks in Washington D.C. should tune in their TVs right now."

Christie's New Jersey financing co-chair, Jon Hanson, told NJ Advance Media that the Aug. 4 evening event is designed to raise cash, but will serve more as a thank you to Garden State donors who've committed to Christie, as 2016 money-raising is already on-going. As such, he declined to name a specific goal for the evening.

Tickets start at $250, but for $2,700 "founding members" ($5,400 per couple) are granted a photo op with the governor, according to a copy of the invitation obtained by NJ Advance Media.

MORE: Christie may be losing ground with Republicans since 2016 campaign kickoff, poll shows

Hanson declined to say how much money the Christie campaign had raised so far, but added that "It's going quite well, because fundraising and perception go together."

Hanson pointed to a Reuters/Ipsos online poll of self-identified Republicans that placed Christie third in the field, trailing former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and real estate developer Donald Trump.



"He's had a good two weeks since he announced that he's running for president and polling has helped (with fundraising)," Hanson said.

A Monmouth University national poll released Monday has Christie tied with three others for ninth place.