Chris Christie puts a halt to his presidential campaign

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie withdrew from the race for the Republican presidential nomination on Wednesday, just days before the commencement of the Republican primary season with Monday’s Iowa caucuses. “There isn’t a viable path for me to secure the nomination,” Christie declared during a town hall in New Hampshire. Distinguishing himself from the rest of the GOP field, Christie openly criticized former President Donald Trump.

Christie’s decision to exit the race at this juncture could potentially bolster the prospects of former United Nations ambassador and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley. The two have been competing for anti-Trump voters, and Haley has made significant gains on Trump in New Hampshire leading up to its January 23 primary. Caught on a hot microphone, Christie remarked that Haley was “going to get smoked.”