The comment was captured on the audio of a live stream broadcast before his event as Christie was backstage. With no video feed, it was unclear who Christie was speaking to, though The Daily Beast reported that it was Wayne MacDonald, a former chair of the New Hampshire Republican Party.

Christie has made no secret of his modest-to-low opinion of Haley’s campaign. For weeks, he had declined calls by her boosters to leave the race, arguing that she — and others — had not shown any backbone in standing up to former President Donald Trump. The two have not spoken in recent weeks, two people familiar with the matter confirmed.

A person familiar with his thinking said Christie changed his mind only in the past 24 hours. “Part of the reasoning,” the person added, “was he had no interest in allowing Haley or others to use him as a scapegoat.”

As for potentially backing Haley, the person added, “it’s clear he won’t be endorsing.”

“Chris Christie has been a friend for many years,” Haley said in a statement in response to Christie dropping out. “I commend him on a hard-fought campaign.”

On the hot mic, Christie was also caught musing about Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who he said had called him, “petrified.” It’s unclear what DeSantis was petrified of.

Christie and DeSantis spoke Wednesday afternoon, a person with direct knowledge of the call confirmed. But the person disputed the idea that DeSantis was “petrified.” DeSantis, this person said, was merely calling Christie after reports emerged that the former governor was dropping out of the race. He told Christie that regardless of his decision, he appreciated his role in the campaign.

During the call, Christie told DeSantis he believed Haley couldn’t win the nomination.

DeSantis and Christie have privately been talking by phone in recent weeks, and have discussed their mutual belief that Haley is a poor candidate. After Haley flubbed a question about the origins of the Civil War, Christie reached out to DeSantis to talk about it. They have also conversed about their shared view that Haley hasn’t given a direct answer on whether she is open to being Trump’s vice presidential pick.

“I agree with Christie that Nikki Haley is ‘going to get smoked,’” DeSantis wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, shortly after the hot mic surfaced.

Christie’s comments were caught on a livestream feed before he began a town hall event in Windham, New Hampshire. And they convey an anger that the former governor has felt about the state of the primary race to date. Christie has staked all of his candidacy on attacking Trump. But he has seen little traction in the polls beyond a narrow swath of New Hampshire voters.

“People don’t want to hear it,” he is heard saying.

Christie could also be heard commenting on how much his opponents have spent on television ads, saying that Haley has spent “$68 million so far just on TV … and we spent $12 [million]. I mean, who’s punching above their weight and who’s getting a return on their investment?”

Haley has been gaining momentum in New Hampshire, with recent polling showing her in second place behind Trump, and Christie in third. His departure from the race could stand to help her close the gap further.

The video was shortly taken down.

Lisa Kashinsky and Sam Stein contributed to this report.

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