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Chris Christie is dramatically dropping out of the 2024 Republican presidential race, according to multiple reports. The former New Jersey governor will end his campaign before Iowa becomes the first state to vote on Monday, according to Bloomberg and journalist Mark Halerpin.
He will make a major announcement at 5 p.m., just five days before the Iowa caucus. It’s a stunning development that could be a big boost for Nikki Haley, as many Christie voters are now expected to support her.
Christie based his campaign on the fact that he was the most outspoken and aggressive opponent of the runaway frontrunner, former President Donald Trump. But he was languishing in the polls and came under increasing pressure to back down and give Haley, who has been gaining momentum, a better chance of catching Trump. On average, Christie was in fifth place in Iowa with 3 percent support.
He had staked almost his entire campaign on success in New Hampshire, the second state to vote on January 23. According to opinion polls, he was in third place there with 12 percent. His shocking decision to withdraw came just a day after he rejected the idea that ending his presidential bid would help Haley defeat Trump.
Speaking at a barbecue restaurant in New Hampshire on Tuesday, he said: ‘I would like to get out of the way of anyone who actually stands up to Donald Trump. Why do we think she (Haley) would hit him? She’s not trying to beat him.” He noted her support for pardoning Trump if one of his criminal trials ends in a conviction, and her refusal to rule out becoming Trump’s running mate if asked.
“Let’s just say I now dropped out of the race and endorsed Nikki Haley,” Christie said Tuesday. “And in three months, in four months, when you’re ready to go to the convention, she’ll emerge as his vice president. What will I look like? What will all the people who supported her at my request look like?’ At his town hall event in New Hampshire on Tuesday, one of Christie’s constituents suggested he should consider resigning.
Greg Leach, 49, of Dover, told Christie he wants his vote to count and asked him about the need to unite around one anti-Trump candidate. “I really want to vote for Christie, but strategically right now I feel like Nikki Haley is the right choice,” he said.
Leach said he was interested in what’s happening in Iowa, but wondered whether Christie should drop out sooner rather than later. “I don’t want it to be too late and for Trump to end up winning because people waited too long,” he said.
Christie had insisted he would stay in the race as long as he saw a path to the nomination. He had also said he would not make an endorsement based on politics, as he did when he supported Trump eight years ago.
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