New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie ends 2016 White House bid

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie smiles as he is introduced by Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan at a town hall-style campaign event, Monday, Feb. 8, 2016, in Hudson, N.H. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie smiles as he is introduced by Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan at a town hall-style campaign event, Monday, Feb. 8, 2016, in Hudson, N.H. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

NASHUA, N.H. — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie dropped out of the Republican nomination for president Wednesday, a day after his sixth-place finish in New Hampshire's primary.

Campaign spokesman Samantha Smith said Christie shared his decision with staff at his campaign headquarters in Morristown, N.J., late Wednesday afternoon, and was calling donors and other supporters.

Christie on Tuesday night told supporters he was heading home to New Jersey to "take a deep breath," await the final tally of results from New Hampshire and decide what to do next. He said he was leaving New Hampshire "without an ounce of regret," but spoke of his campaign in the past tense at one point and canceled a Wednesday event in next-to-vote South Carolina.

Christie dropped out of the race the same day that Carly Fiorina said on social media that she, too, was calling it quits. The former chief executive of Hewlett-Packard won just 4 percent of the vote in New Hampshire. Christie had 7 percent.

Christie had been banking on a strong finish in New Hampshire and spent more than 70 days campaigning in the state, holding well-received town halls and meet-and-greets.

Read Thursday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

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