Christie's out
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Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie plans to suspend his long-shot presidential campaign Wednesday in a 5 p.m. announcement, according to two sources who have knowledge of the campaign and its plans.
Christie is not expected to make any endorsement at this time, according to one of the sources, who speculated that Christie may want to wait until after the Iowa caucus next Monday before making any announcement to amplify its effect.
A Christie fundraiser said she heard from the candidate himself that he would be dropping out.
"I am very saddened by this. I wanted him to stay in. He did not have discussions with Nikki about this," the person told NBC News.
The decision removes the most high-profile and consistent critic of Trump still in the Republican primary, with Christie weathering boos and catcalls at GOP debates when he stuck to his message against the former president.
But Christie’s departure may also boost Nikki Haley, who has also selectively criticized Trump and who has been fighting for a similar group of moderate voters in New Hampshire. Haley and Christie have both overperformed among self-described independents in polls ahead of New Hampshire’s Jan. 23 open primary.
