Christie says he’ll skip voting for Trump or Biden in favor of other office candidates

Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie said he would rather “vote down-ballot” than for former President Donald Trump or President Biden.

“This is not news,” Mr. Christie said on Hugh Hewitt’s radio show Thursday about not supporting Mr. Trump. “I’ve been saying this from the beginning. I’m the guy who didn’t raise my hand on the stage when they asked me if you would support him if he was a convicted felon.”

Mr. Trump and Mr. Biden are the leading candidates in the polls.

The former New Jersey governor did say he would “absolutely” support Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis or former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley if either won the GOP nominee.

Mr. Hewitt sparred with Mr. Christie over staying in the race, saying “everybody is waiting on” the former governor to drop out.

“Well, good for them,” Mr. Christie responded.

He has called his former boss unfit for the presidency, contending Thursday that it was a “mistake” to endorse Mr. Trump in 2016.

“I have an admission to make: Eight years ago, I endorsed Donald Trump because he was winning,” he wrote on X. “I was wrong. And unlike everyone else in this race, I can admit when I make a mistake. In the end, the most important characteristic of any candidate for president of the United States is simple: character.”

Mr. Christie is polling his best in New Hampshire, home of the Jan. 23 primary. According to polling averages done by FiveThirtyEight, Mr. Trump grabs the lead with 46.3%, Ms. Haley comes in second with 24.8% and Mr. Christie stands third with 10.5%.

In national polls, Mr. Christie finds himself in fifth place.