{"id":188834,"date":"2016-02-11T05:56:52","date_gmt":"2016-02-11T05:56:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/?p=188834"},"modified":"2016-02-11T05:56:52","modified_gmt":"2016-02-11T05:56:52","slug":"chris-christie-ends-bid-for-republican-nomination","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2016\/02\/chris-christie-ends-bid-for-republican-nomination\/","title":{"rendered":"Chris Christie ends bid for Republican nomination"},"content":{"rendered":"
Republican Chris Christie has dropped out of the US presidential race after a disappointing finish in New Hampshire.<\/p>\n
The New Jersey governor spent heavily and campaigned the longest in the state but still finished in sixth place.<\/p>\n
Mr Christie joins former tech executive Carly Fiorina, who also left the race after struggling in Iowa and New Hampshire.<\/p>\n
He was praised for his debate performances and was credited with blunting the momentum of Marco Rubio.<\/p>\n
During the campaign, Mr Christie promoted his law-and-order credentials, saying his experience as a federal prosecutor after the 9\/11 attacks uniquely prepared him to protect the country against terrorists.<\/p>\n
Also as the Republican leader of traditionally Democratic state, Mr Christie said his experience showed he could work with both parties to get things done in Washington.<\/p>\n
However, as a candidate his positions on issues such as climate change, immigration and gay rights shifted to the right, putting him in line with his more conservative rivals.<\/p>\n
Mr Rubio had surged in the polls after a strong showing in Iowa. But Mr Christie effectively painted the Florida senator as the “boy in the bubble” who was overly cautious and scripted.<\/p>\n
However, Mr Christie’s moderate rivals – Ohio Governor John Kasich and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush – seemed to have reaped the benefits.<\/p>\n
“While running for president I tried to reinforce what I have always believed – that speaking your mind matters, that experience matters, that competence matters and that it will always matter in leading our nation,” Mr Christie said in a statement on Wednesday, making an indirect reference to front-runner Donald Trump.<\/p>\n
A former prosecutor, Mr Christie is known for his blunt and aggressive speaking style. His campaign slogan was: “Telling it like it is.”<\/p>\n
However, he was quickly eclipsed by Mr Trump, who drew headlines and massive crowds with his brash persona and controversial statements about immigrants and trade.<\/p>\n
In 2012, Republican leaders had urged Mr Christie, who was then a rising star in the party, to run for president, but he rebuffed their appeals, saying he wasn’t ready yet.<\/p>\n
Yet by 2015, when Mr Christie launched his presidential campaign, his stock had fallen. His popularity faltered after his staff was accused of intentionally creating a traffic jam to punish a political enemy.<\/p>\n
His approval ratings in New Jersey also suffered as some residents said Mr Christie was more concerned about his presidential ambitions than his current job.<\/p>\n
After flooding hit coastal towns in New Jersey in January, Mr Christie had to apologise after he sarcastically dismissed calls for him to do more to help.<\/p>\n
“I don’t know what you want me to do, you want me to go down there with a mop?” he told a man who questioned why he was in New Hampshire and not New Jersey.<\/p>\n