(TargetDailyNews.com) – Former Governor of New Jersey Chris Christie has bowed out of the 2024 GOP presidential primary taking the opportunity to complain about front-runner Donald Trump. Talking to less than 100 voters at an event in New Hampshire, Christie emphasized his desire to “tell the truth” and argued that his entire campaign was built around the premise of honesty.
Christie said that it was “hard work” to change the Republican party without specifying what kinds of changes he was seeking. He said that he would rather lose by telling the truth than win by lying. He further explained himself by saying he didn’t want to enable Trump’s victory in Iowa, and so bowing out was his way of freeing up primary voters. Christie did not make an endorsement immediately.
Analysts cited by USA Today believe that Christie’s exit will likely help Nikki Haley the most. Haley has been moving up in the polls and contesting the presumption that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is the runner-up for the GOP presidential nomination.
Christie had previously said he was going to stay in for the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries and then bow out if he failed to meet his target percentages without elaborating what those numbers were.
Christie himself doesn’t have much faith in Haley’s performance, however, as he was caught uttering the suggestion that she will “get smoked” in the primaries. Christie’s hot mic commentary occurred just minutes before he announced the suspension of his campaign.
Haley had positive words about Christie which she posted on X (Twitter). She called Christie “a friend” and commended him on his campaign.
DeSantis joked on X that he agreed with Christie’s suggestion that Haley will “get smoked” during the Iowa primary.
Trump posted on Truth Social, suggesting that he may come around to “like him again,” referring to Christie.
GOP presidential primary candidate Vivek Ramaswamy told USA Today that Christie’s departure was “better late than never.”
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