New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s campaign has confirmed that he told his staff he’s no longer running for president.
Christie announced his decision in a 4 p.m. meeting with his staff, the campaign told the Washington Examiner.
He was widely expected to exit the 2016 race for the White House as early as today, after placing sixth in the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday.
CNN reported in the morning that “all indications” are that Christie will leave the race, after talking with two sources close to the campaign.
NEW: Chris Christie expected to formally suspend his presidential campaign as early as today, @ABC News has learned pic.twitter.com/wdHfW9JUEA
— ABC News (@ABC) February 10, 2016
Christie came in sixth place in the New Hampshire primary Tuesday night, and got just 7.4 percent of the vote. That was only enough to put him ahead of Carly Fiorina and Ben Carson, and well behind Donald Trump’s 35 percent.
Christie spent more time than any other candidate in New Hampshire, but he struggled to carve out a niche in the crowded field.
Voters who wanted somebody from a new generation of Republicans could look toward Sens. Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz. Those seeking executive governing experience in a swing state had Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush to choose from, both of whom also dedicated a significant amount of time and resources to the Granite State. And for those who wanted somebody with a tough guy image and a reputation of speaking his mind, Donald Trump sucked up all the oxygen.
His failure to catch fire in New Hampshire is a major setback in what has been a fast-rising political career for Christie. First elected in 2009, he quickly gained a fan base for viral YouTube videos showing him confronting public sector union members, which provided a boost of adrenalin to conservatives at a time when they were demoralized as President Obama and congressional Democrats pushed through a sweeping liberal agenda.
By 2011, some people were pushing him to run for president, but he declined to do it and said he wasn’t ready. By the following year, however, he started falling more out of favor with conservatives. They weren’t happy with his embrace of President Obama during Hurricane Sandy just before the 2012 election.
In 2013, while running for re-election, he agreed to expand Medicaid through Obamacare. And shortly after winning a landslide re-election, he was ensnarled in a controversy over the shutdown of lanes in the George Washington Bridge, eroding his approval ratings at home.
By the time he entered the presidential race, he was an underdog, so he staked his hopes on performing well here, where voters have a tradition of rewarding candidates who put in the time to openly engage them in town hall meetings. But it was not to be.
