AP sources: Christie expected to end 2016 White House bid

NASHUA, N.H. (AP) — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is expected to end his campaign for the Republican nomination for president after a disappointing sixth-place finish in New Hampshire's primary, two people familiar with his plans told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

[...] Tuesday's result appeared to be the final blow for a candidate whose campaign, at points, saw glimmers of hope, but had trouble from the get-go raising money and building support in a crowded Republican field dominated by another brash East Coaster, businessman Donald Trump.

The terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino in particular played to Christie's advantage, allowing him to talk about his previous job as a U.S. attorney and play up his law-and-order credentials.

[...] a commanding performance during the last GOP debate before the New Hampshire primary earned him strong reviews.

Christie's aggressive political team worked to rack up endorsements and wide victory margins in his re-election bid for governor as a springboard for 2016.

[...] his aides took their game of doling out political favors and punishments too far, leading to one of the most dumbfounding political scandals in recent memory, in which aides purposely created traffic jams in the town of Fort Lee to punish the mayor, who chose not to endorse Christie's re-election.