New Hampshire
Chris Christie will announce at New Hampshire town hall that he’s ending presidential bid, AP source says
(AP) – WINDHAM, N.H. (AP) — Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is planning to announce he’s dropping his Republican presidential bid at his New Hampshire town hall on Wednesday night.
That’s according to a person with direct knowledge of the former New Jersey governor’s plans who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to disclose private discussions.
Christie, 61, has been under intense pressure to exit the Republican presidential primary race as critics of Donald Trump work to unify behind a viable alternative to the former president.
Christie is scheduled to host a town hall meeting in Windham at 5 p.m., hours before two of his rivals, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, meet for the fifth GOP presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle. It is the only debate that Christie did not qualify for.
The news comes as a surprise, given that Christie had staked the success of his campaign on New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation primary, which is less than two weeks away. He had insisted as recently as Tuesday night that he had no plans to leave the race, rebuffing growing calls for him to step aside as he continued to cast himself as the only candidate willing to directly take on the former president.
“I would be happy to get out of the way for someone who is actually running against Donald Trump,” he said at a town hall in Rochester, New Hampshire, while arguing that none of his rivals had stepped up to the plate.
“I’m famous enough. … I’ve got plenty of titles. … The only reason to do this is to win,” he added. “So I’d be happy to get out of the way for somebody if they actually were going against Donald Trump.”
But Christie faced a stark reality: While recent polls showed him reaching the double digits in New Hampshire, Haley shows signs of momentum. A CNN/UNH poll conducted in the state this week found Trump’s lead down to the single digits, with 4 in 10 likely Republican primary voters choosing Trump and about one-third now choosing Haley.
Allies of Haley, including New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu and other anti-Trump Republicans, had been urging Christie to exit, hoping a large portion of his supporters would flock to Haley, giving her a chance to turn the race into a two-candidate contest with Trump, the overwhelming favorite for the nomination.
The New Hampshire poll — which showed Christie at 12% — found about two-thirds of his supporters would select Haley as their second choice.
Christie had run as the race’s fiercest critic of the former president-turned-GOP front-runner. He warned voters against nominating a candidate who has been criminally indicted four times and could very well be a convicted felon by the November general election. And he argued Trump will lose in a rematch with President Joe Biden, the likely Democratic nominee.
While his anti-Trump message attracted much media attention and helped bring in waves of small-dollar donations that kept him in the race — and on the debate stage — far longer than many expected, Christie was plagued by high unfavorability ratings in a party that remains deeply loyal to Trump.
He also remained mired in the single digits in national polling.
Nonetheless, Christie managed to outlast far better-known and better-funded candidates, including former Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, in part because he ran a frugal campaign. Instead of flying by private jet and hiring a litany of expensive consultants, he relied on a tight-knit staff of just over a dozen people and had a far lower “burn rate” than rivals like DeSantis, spending far less per day.
___
Peoples and Colvin reported from Des Moines, Iowa.
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
New Hampshire
NH minimum wage unchanged while neighbors increase theirs
New Hampshire
12-year-old boy dies after crashing into tree while skiing in New Hampshire
A 12-year-old has died in a horrific accident after plowing into a tree while skiing in New Hampshire, said officials.
The young boy had been skiing at the Cranmore Mountain Resort on New Year’s Eve when he crashed into the tree, said Conway Police Department Thursday.
North Conway Fire and Rescue responded to the accident at the popular ski resort late morning after receiving reports of an unconscious boy on Skimobile Road in North Conway.
The child, who remains unidentified, had been skiing down The Bandit trail, which is listed as an intermediate run.
CPR was quickly initiated at the scene and he was rushed to a local hospital, where he was declared dead.
“When rescue personnel arrived on scene, the 12-year-old male was being treated by Cranmore Mountain Ski Patrol who had transported the boy to the base of the mountain,” the police said in a statement.
“He was then transported by Action Ambulance to Maine Health Memorial Hospital in North Conway where he passed as a result of the injuries sustained in the collision,” officials added.
“On behalf of the Conway Police Department, and all the first responders who assisted, I would like to offer my deepest condolences to the family members of the 12-year-old boy,” said Conway Police Chief Christopher Mattei.
When approached for comment a Cranmore Mountain Resort spokesperson told The Independent: “On behalf of Cranmore Mountain Resort, our thoughts, and prayers go out to the family. The entire Cranmore family grieves this tragic loss.”
When asked to comment on the number of incidents that have occurred at the Cranmore resort, the spokesperson did not respond.
Last March a 14-year-old boy died after crashing into a tree while snowboarding down a beginner trail on Dercum Mountain in Colorado.
Levi Inama had been a student at Palmer Ridge High School in Monument when the ski patrol was called then to a “serious incident.” The teenager died days later after being taken off life support at a Denver hospital, reported The Colorado Sun.
The Independent contacted the Conway Police Department for further information.
New Hampshire
The oldest restaurant in New Hampshire just reopened with a new menu. How to eat there
Bernadette restaurant opens in Salem, Massachusetts: A look inside
The owners and chef at Bernadette provide a tour of the dining area and kitchen of the French-inspired restaurant, that opened in Salem last month.
Want to dine at the oldest restaurant in New Hampshire? You’re in luck – the site just reopened in Hancock.
Originally opened in 1789 as a stop for travelers on trade routes between Boston and Vermont, The Inn at Hancock is the state’s oldest inn and restaurant, according to Thrillist.
The Hancock has remained a place to stay and dine since its opening over 200 years ago, drawing crowds from all over to experience the historic New England charm – including former U.S. President Franklin Pierce.
However, the inn temporarily closed for renovations in 2022, staying closed for two years. Now, as of the end of 2024, The Inn at Hancock is reopen for dining with a new chef, a reimagined menu and two unique dining spaces. Here’s what to know about eating at New Hampshire’s most historic restaurant today.
About dining at The Inn at Hancock
While the restaurant at The Hancock was previously named The Fox Tavern, the reopened inn features two new dining spaces – The Hunt Bar and Scullery, a casual tavern with light fare and live piano jazz, and Pinks Lounge, a lush dining room overlooking the back patio with an a la carte menu and raw bar.
The Inn at Hancock’s new menu blends classic continental and contemporary cuisines while incorporating sustainable, seasonal ingredients from local farms. Menu options range from upscale comfort food like braised lamb and mushroom wellington to seafood classics like grilled halibut and shrimp cocktail.
How to eat at The Inn at Hancock
The Hunt Bar and Scullery is open for dinner from 4-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 4-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. At Pinks Lounge, brunch is available from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, and dinner is served from from 5-9 p.m. Thursday and 5-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
Reservations for both spaces can be made online. The inn is currently only open for dining, with construction work ongoing in the guest rooms.
The Inn at Hancock can be found at at 33 Main St. in Hancock, NH.
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