WINDHAM, N.H. (AP) — Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has dropped out of the Republican presidential race. He made the announcement Wednesday night at a town hall in New Hampshire just hours before the fifth debate of the 2024 election cycle kicked off without him. Christie has been under intense pressure to exit the race as Trump critics work to unify behind a viable Republican alternative to the former president. Christie did not endorsing any of his rivals and continued to criticize them in his exit speech. He was overheard on a live mic ahead of the event saying that Nikki Haley is “going to get smoked.”