Politics

‘Then I’ll Leave’: Chris Christie Pledges To Drop Out Of Presidential Race If He Can’t Swing This Key State

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Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will likely drop out of the 2024 Republican presidential race if he does not fare well in the key early primary state of New Hampshire, The New York Times reported on Thursday.

Christie launched his second presidential bid in early June, and has been spending the majority of his time campaigning in New Hampshire. The former governor withdrew from the 2016 primary after coming in sixth place in the state, and toldthe NYT he’s likely to leave the race in 2024 if he doesn’t have a strong showing.

“I can’t see myself leaving the race under any circumstances before New Hampshire,” Christie told the NYT. “If I don’t do well in New Hampshire, then I’ll leave.”

Christie garnered only 7.4% support in the 2016 New Hampshire primary that former President Donald Trump won, which placed him behind former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, according to Politico. Christie later threw his support behind Trump, who he has since become a staunch critic of.

“I’m not going to let him get away with being a coward and running away,” Christie told the NYT. “It could be meeting him out in front of his event as he’s making his way in. It could be confronting him on his way out. It could be actually going to the event. It could be a whole bunch of options that we’re going to try. I’m not going to tell them exactly which one I’m going to do, because then he would have his staff prepared for it and try to stop me.”

🚨 New Poll 🚨 New Hampshire
Republican Primary 2024:

Trump — 29%
DeSantis — 27%
Haley — 15%
Christie — 11%
Scott — 10%
Ramaswamy — 4%
Pence — 1.5%
Burgam — 1%
Johnson — .5%
Hutchinson — 0%
Suarez — 0%

Jack Handy Poll Services | 558 LV | 09/03-09/07

MOE 4.31%

— Sterling Archer (@ShawnMcElhinney) September 9, 2023

Trump is leading the crowded Republican primary field by 37 points in New Hampshire, followed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley tied at 10%, and conservative businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and Christie tied at 8%, according to a late August NMB Research survey.

Christie was able to meet the Republican National Committee’s requirements to make the first GOP debate stage on Aug. 23, including surpassing a 40,000 unique donor requirement, polling criteria and signing a loyalty pledge to support the eventual nominee.

The RealClearPolitics (RCP) average for a 2024 national Republican primary, based on polls conducted between Aug. 24 and Sept. 12, indicates Trump has 56.1% of the vote, followed by DeSantis at 13%, Ramaswamy at 6.6%, Haley at 5.8%, former Vice President Mike Pence at 4.8% and Christie at 3%. All other 2024 hopefuls have less than 3% support.

Christie did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.