Chris Christie cancels South Carolina primary event after 'long talk with Trump' about quitting race and is ditched from next Republican debate

  • New Jersey Governor slumped to sixth place with 7.5% in New Hampshire where he had gambled on doing well 
  • Donald Trump tells morning shows that he talked with Christie about him quitting the race 
  • Endorsement from the governor would be valuable to any candidate in tight race and he is at home in New Jersey to 'take a deep breath'
  • Christie's attack on Rubio as a robot has been dubbed a murder-suicide as it appeared to turn voters off them both 

By Dailymail.com Reporter

Published: 08:26 EST, 10 February 2016 | Updated: 08:47 EST, 10 February 2016

Chris Christie's faltering White House campaign canceled his only scheduled South Carolina engagement today in a sign that he is on the verge of quitting.

The New Jersey governor had been due at a forum on legal and constitutional issues in Charleston today - but will no longer attend, Brielle Applebaum of the Conservative Leadership Project said.

Christie last night said he was going home to take a 'deep breath', while this morning Donald Trump said he had had a 'long talk' with him last night and covered the question of quitting.

Last stand: Republican presidential candidate, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie thanks supporters during a primary night rally in Nashua, N.H.

Last stand: Republican presidential candidate, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie thanks supporters during a primary night rally in Nashua, N.H.

Trump said on 'CBS This Morning' that he and Christie spoke last night, a conversation he described on MSNBC's Morning Joe as 'a long talk'.

On CBS he said they talked a 'little bit' about dropping out and added: 'I'd like to see a lot of people drop out.'

Seeking endorsements from any rivals that quit the race, Trump also said: 'He's a friend of mine. I'm surprised he didn't do better.'

Christie told a crowd of supporters in New Hampshire on Tuesday night that he was headed home to New Jersey to 'take a deep breath' and assess what comes next.

'Disappointed': Marco Rubio admitted his debate performance had cost him votes in New Hampshire, as he fell beneath Ted Cruz and Jeb Bush into fifth place, having polled as high as second

His fifth place meant he is disqualified from the GOP debate in South Carolina on Saturday night, on the eve of the primary there.

He had failed to meet the other criteria set out by the Republicans and CBS News and would have had to come third in New Hampshire.

Christie had gambled heavily on doing well in New Hampshire, spending 72 days there in total.

And he was the standout of Saturday night's GOP debate, but that was for his attack on 'robotic' Marco Rubio, a sally which appeared to have cost both of them votes.

The sheer size and unpredictability of the Republican race makes his endorsement a valuable commodity for any remaining candidate, which could prolong the amount of time he spends before announcing whether he will quit or fight on - a decision seem as highly unlikely by pundits.

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