Chris Christie Drops Out of Presidential Race Prior to Iowa Caucus

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has officially ended his 2024 presidential campaign, citing a lack of support as the reason for his decision. Christie made the announcement during a town hall event in New Hampshire, where he acknowledged that he did not see a viable path to securing the nomination. He stated, “It’s clear to me tonight that there isn’t a path for me to win the nomination. It’s the right thing for me to do.”

Throughout his campaign, Christie focused on preventing former President Donald Trump from becoming the Republican nominee. He spent a significant amount of time criticizing Trump and portraying him as a threat to democracy and national security. Christie emphasized his commitment to honesty, stating, “I would rather lose by telling the truth than lie in order to win.”

Christie’s departure from the race is expected to benefit the campaigns of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, who are the two most prominent candidates running as alternatives to Trump. Supporters of Haley, in particular, have publicly urged Christie to drop out, believing that it would enhance her chances of success.

A recent survey conducted by WPA Intelligence and FairVote supports the theory that Christie’s departure could boost Haley’s campaign. Among Republican primary voters who ranked Christie as their top choice, 40% said Haley was their second preference, while less than 5% said the same of DeSantis.

Christie maintained that he was the only Republican candidate willing to speak the truth about Trump. He criticized rivals like Haley and DeSantis for focusing too much on winning over Trump’s supporters, arguing that they were ill-equipped to defeat him. Christie stated, “Anyone who is unwilling to say he is unfit to be president of the United States is unfit to be President of the United States.”

Haley has taken a diplomatic approach on the campaign trail, opposing Trump’s nomination while also praising his accomplishments in office. This strategy has been seen as shrewd and appealing by many of her supporters, although some have expressed frustration that she has not been more forceful in her criticism of Trump.

Just before his announcement, Christie was caught on a hot mic discussing his Republican competitors in the presidential race during his campaign’s livestream. He expressed doubt about Haley’s chances, saying, “She’s going to get smoked, and you and I both know it. She’s not up to this.”

DeSantis and Haley are set to participate in a CNN debate in Iowa later in the evening, as they seek to gain support ahead of the state’s Republican caucus on January 15.

This is Christie’s second attempt at securing the presidency, following his 2016 bid when he suspended his campaign and endorsed Donald Trump. He played a significant role in Trump’s transition team and served as an advisor during his term. However, Christie later became one of Trump’s most vocal critics within the GOP and has expressed regret over endorsing him eight years prior.