Former NJ governor Chris Christie to announce run for president -source

[May 31, 2023]  WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie is planning to announce a bid for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination on June 6 in the early nominating state of New Hampshire, a person familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. 

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie speaks at the Institute of Politics at St. Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S., March 27, 2023. REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo

Christie, 60, will join a growing field of Republicans vying to topple former president Donald Trump in the party's primary and take on President Joe Biden, who is expected to win the Democratic nomination for a second term.

Christie will launch his campaign a town hall at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire on Tuesday, the person familiar with the matter said, confirming an earlier report by Axios.

Christie was a former Trump supporter but turned against him over the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Reuters/Ipsos polling conducted on May 9-15 showed Trump is backed by 49% of Republicans, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in a distant second place at 19%. They were followed by former Vice President Mike Pence with 5% and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley on 4%, the poll showed.

(Reporting by Susan Heavey and Nathan Layne; Writing by Katharine Jackson; Editing by Andrew Heavens)

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