Both GOP presidential candidates New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and former technology executive Carly Fiorina have announced their exits from the 2016 race.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie dropped out of the race for the Republican nomination for president “without an ounce of regret” on Wednesday, a day after his disappointing sixth-place finish in New Hampshire’s primary.
“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,” Christie wrote on his Facebook page and in an email to supporters. “That message was heard by and stood for by a lot of people, but just not enough and that’s OK.”
Campaign spokeswoman Samantha Smith said Christie shared his decision with staff at his campaign headquarters in Morristown, New Jersey, late Wednesday afternoon, and also called donors and other supporters to give them the news.
At his New Hampshire watch party Tuesday night, Christie told supporters he was heading home to New Jersey to “take a deep breath” and decide what to do next. But he spoke of his campaign in the past tense at one point and cancelled a Wednesday event in next-to-vote South Carolina, suggesting the end was near.
Christie dropped out of the race the same day that Carly Fiorina announced 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.
Carly Fiorina exited the race after winning praise for her debate prowess but struggling to build a winning coalition in a crowded GOP field.
“While I suspend my candidacy today, I will continue to travel this country and fight for those Americans who refuse to settle for the way things are and a status quo that no longer works for them,” Fiorina wrote in a Facebook statement.
“I will continue to serve in order to restore citizen government to this great nation so that together we may fulfill our potential,” the statement said.
Fiorina, 61, entered the tumultuous Republican primary in April. She promoted herself as an outsider with business experience and argued that as the lone woman in the GOP field she was best positioned to oppose likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. After a standout performance in the first undercard debate, Fiorina rose to the mainstage and soared in the polls in the fall. But her momentum quickly stalled and by the end of the year she had dropped back down.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
I did not know Carly Fiorina until she ran for the Republican nominee for president. I admire her knowledge and “outspokeness” of the way our country has been heading. She might be dropping out. But her statements will long be remembered and I think they opened the eyes of many Americans. I hope she is chosen to be one the President’s cabinet members, whomever it will be. She is a great American and a precious asset to our country.
Agreed!!!
Go Trump!!!
In a different election cycle these two candidates might have had a better chance. When Donald Trump entered the race he managed to soak up most of the media attention. Sadly many of this year’s Republican presidential candidates did not get the media exposure they deserved.
The thinning ranks of the Republican presidential candidates may allow voters to ultimately decide which candidate worldview/philosophy they prefer. In other words, voters will get to choose between Donald Trump and one or two others. The challenge will be for Donald’s opponents to raise enough money to offset his deep pockets.