In a revealing hot mic moment, former GOP presidential candidate Chris Christie was inadvertently caught expressing skepticism about the electoral prospects of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, both vying for the Republican nomination against former President Donald Trump.

Chris Christie is caught on a hot mic ahead of his expected announcement that he's dropping out of the presidential race:

He says Nikki Haley is "gonna get smoked" and a "petrified" Ron DeSantis called him. pic.twitter.com/fGOFEtVDHn

— The Recount (@therecount) January 10, 2024

Christie, who announced his withdrawal from the GOP primary on Wednesday evening, was overheard mocking DeSantis as “petrified” and suggesting that Haley is bound to “get smoked” in the race. The unguarded comments shed light on Christie’s assessment of the dynamics within the Republican primary and may have unintended consequences for the remaining candidates.

“We know we’re right, but they don’t want to hear it,” Christie remarked in a conversation with an individual identified as “Wayne.” Reflecting on his unsuccessful campaign, Christie emphasized the clarity and directness of his message, seemingly contrasting it with what he perceives as the shortcomings of DeSantis and Haley.

Christie pointed to campaign spending to underscore the comparative performance of the campaigns, noting that Haley had spent $68 million on TV advertising, DeSantis $59 million, and his own campaign $12 million. The former New Jersey governor questioned who was “punching above their weight” and achieving a better return on investment.

Expressing doubt about Haley’s chances, Christie asserted, “She’s gonna get smoked. And you and I both know, and she’s not up to this.” The conversation also touched upon Haley’s standing in New Hampshire, where she reportedly lags behind Trump by 20 points.

Christie’s remarks extended to DeSantis, as he revealed that the Florida governor had contacted him, seemingly concerned about Christie’s decision-making in the race. Despite the cordial exchange, Christie’s hot mic comments hinted at underlying doubts about DeSantis’ viability in the primary.

The candid moment also disclosed that Christie, a vocal critic of Trump during the primary, didn’t mince words when assessing Haley, branding her a “joke” who has performed poorly and is not up to the task.

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

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