Manchester, New Hampshire (CNN)New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie dominates almost any room he enters but is suddenly facing questions about his relevance in the 2016 presidential race. 

The surprisingly fast-moving Republican presidential contest, kicked off by Jeb Bush shortly after the New Year and accelerated by the unexpected re-emergence of Mitt Romney, is putting pressure on Christie, who was once the Republican establishment's favorite. 

The big-check GOP contributors that were once assumed to be Christie's for the taking — in particular the Wall Street financiers just across the Hudson River from New Jersey — are now being courted aggressively by Bush and Romney as they ramp up their campaigns. 

"There is big advantage to moving first, and when you're a whale like both Jeb and Romney are, and you jump into that pool first, its hard for anyone else to squeeze in," said B. Wayne Hughes, a California billionaire and Republican donor who has not committed to supporting a candidate. "They have the same donor base, so they have to go after those guys." 

Bush has been a well-liked figure in the center-right donor set for years, thanks to his widespread family connections and the perks and ambassadorships doled out by two previous Bush White Houses. The former Florida governor has also been a champion of immigration reform, a precious issue for the business community and Republicans who want to grow the party's appeal among Hispanics, even as conservatives bristle at the idea. 

Romney, meanwhile, built an impressive financial network during his 2012 campaign, and many of those donors are waiting to see what he does before committing to another candidate. His surprising decision last week at a New York donor meeting to "show some 2016 leg," as one attendee put it, was designed to keep Bush at bay as he mulls a third presidential bid. 
Who the dominant person they are talking about?
Who is he?
What he is aspiring?
Which year?
Are they doubting his relevance?
Who used to finance him?
Like who?
Who are befriending them now?
Is there benefits in fast paced campaigning?
Who said that?
Who is that?
From where?
Did he give any commitment to anyone yet?
How was Romney's financial network in last election?
Which year was that?
Are all of them supporting him now?
Where he made that decision?
When Jeb Bush started his campaign?
Did he speed up seeing Romney in the pool?
Who was once the party's favorite?
Chris Christie
Chris Christie
New Jersey Governor
New Jersey Gov.
presidential race
presidential race
2016
2016
yes
questions about his relevance
big-check GOP contributors
big-check GOP contributors
Wall Street financiers
Wall Street financiers
Bush and Romney
Bush and Romney
yes
 big advantage to moving first,
B. Wayne Hughes
B. Wayne Hughes
billionaire and Republican donor
billionaire and Republican donor
California
California
no
has not committed 
impressive
impressive
2012
2012
no, they are waiting
waiting to see what he does before committing
New York donor meeting
New York donor meeting
after the New Year
after the New Year 
yes
accelerated 
Christie
Christie