A new poll provides more evidence that Rep. Michele Bachmann has effectively become an also-ran in the Republican presidential primary — although the man who led to her plunge, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, is now dropping himself.

Bachmann was at 3 percent in the latest Quinnipiac poll, putting her in seventh tied with former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney led the national poll with 22 percent, followed by business executive Herman Cain at 17 percent. Romney trailed Perry in Quinnipiac's August poll.

Perry is now in third at 14 percent, and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin — who has not indicated she will run — is in fourth at 9 percent.

But even taking Palin out of the equation doesn't help Bachmann much: She would rise to just 5 percent.

In July, Bachmann was in second place in the Quinnipiac poll, but she dropped to fourth at the end of August and now even further in the latest survey.

The poll was released the day after New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said once more that he would not run. When Christie was included in the equation, he tied for first with Romney.