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ON POLITICS
Christie 2016 Presidential Election

Decision time for Chris Christie as reports surface he's likely to drop out

Bob Jordan
Asbury Park Press

NASHUA, N.H. — Chris Christie said he wanted to wait on complete New Hampshire primary results before announcing a decision on the fate of his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.

On the morning after his thumping in the Granite State, the outlook did not look any prettier.

Politico reported Wednesday that Christie is expected to suspend his White House bid later today. CNN, citing two sources, said "all indications" suggest he will drop out of the race. The Associated Press, quoting sources, reported the New Jersey governor is expected to end his bid as well.

With virtually all of the votes counted, Christie finished in sixth place with 7% — poor enough to force the end of the New Jersey governor’s campaign.

Before New Hampshire voted, Christie was set to travel to South Carolina Wednesday to attend a conservative conference and hold two campaign events Thursday, in advance of the state's GOP primary Feb. 20.

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Instead, his campaign sent out a media advisory on his schedule change early this morning: “Today, Governor Christie will travel to New Jersey. We will advise of any further scheduling changes.’’

Christie heads home to 'make a decision' after poor finish in N.H.

Christie is done, said Matthew Hale, a Seton Hall University political scientist.

“I absolutely think he’s gone today,’’ Hale said. “He headed home to figure out what’s next. Cynically, part of me says he waits on conversations with the other governors in the race, trying to figure out what he can get out of this.’’

With Christie gone, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and former Florida governor Jeb Bush would be in stronger positions to cut down maverick front-runner Donald Trump, Hale said. Christie helped the other governors, Hale said, by cutting down Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida in the last debate.

The gloves come off between Christie and Rubio

“The attack on Rubio seems like it was more of a suicide bombing. He hit his target but took himself out,’’ Hale said. “Coalescing around someone is an important stepping stone for the Republican Party because if that doesn’t happen Donald Trump is going to be the nominee. Christie can have a leadership role in coalescing. If he doesn’t, they all go down with the ship.’’

One of Christie’s first phone calls was to Trump, however.

Trump said on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, “I think that Chris did an amazing job in terms of the debate as a prosecutor and he's a friend of mine and he actually called me last night and we had a long talk and he's a little disappointed because he really did do a great job, he did an amazing job during that debate. I was witness to it because I was standing next to Marco — who I like very much — and, you know, it was a strange kind of a situation going on there. It was a little bit strange and Marco understands that and he'll be able to fix it, I hope.’’

Christie went into this week’s vote on the ropes financially. Eight GOP candidates had more money in their campaign accounts on Dec. 31, according to Federal Election Commission reports.

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