WINDHAM, N.H. (AP) — Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is planning to announce he’s dropping his Republican presidential bid at his New Hampshire town hall on Wednesday night, according to a person with direct knowledge of the plans.
Christie, 61, has been under intense pressure to exit the Republican presidential primary race as critics of Donald Trump work to unify behind a viable alternative to the former president. His impending exit was confirmed by a person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to disclose private discussions.
Christie is scheduled to host a town hall meeting in Windham at 5 p.m., hours before two of his rivals, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, meet for the fifth GOP presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle. It is the only debate that Christie did not qualify for.
It wasn’t clear whether Christie would be immediately endorsing one of his rivals, but he was overheard criticizing Haley on a live microphone ahead of the event. “She’s going to get smoked,” he said. “She’s not up to this.” He said DeSantis called him, petrified he would endorse Haley, but the hot mic was cut before Christie finished speaking.
The dropout comes as
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