Chris Christie exits Republican race for White House and attacks Trump

(Patria) - Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has dropped out of the presidential race, the BBC reported.

"I will make sure that in no way do I enable Donald Trump to ever be president of the United States again," he said.

The Republican had faced pressure to withdraw and allow the party to unite behind a viable challenger to Trump. This was his second unsuccessful presidential campaign.

Christie's departure comes days before the Iowa caucuses, the first state-by-state contest where Republican voters will choose their presidential nominee.

Christie (61) announced he was suspending his campaign at a town hall event in the US state of New Hampshire. He dedicated much of his remarks to urging Republican voters to reject Trump. Christie accused the former president of "putting himself before the people of this country."

Christie did not endorse any of the several other candidates still in the race. But before announcing his withdrawal, Christie predicted that candidate Nikki Haley "will get scorched, and we both know it" and added that "she is not up to this."