COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, — The chief of the Republican Governors Association said Monday that Minnesota’s race hasn’t fallen off his map and a stop he made for GOP nominee Jeff Johnson is proof he thinks Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton is beatable.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, the group’s chairman, spent several hours raising money with Johnson and touring a charter school with a strong track record. Christie is the highest-profile surrogate who has joined Johnson since he became his party’s nominee in August.

“I’m going to be in 18 different states in the month of October,” Christie told reporters. “I’m not going anywhere where I don’t think our candidate can win.”

Dayton has led Johnson in all polling but Minnesota is accustomed to fast-closing races. There are three head-to-head debates to go, including one Tuesday in Duluth.