Windham, New Hampshire - Chris Christie, the former New Jersey governor, dropped from the Republican race for president on Wednesday, capping a long-shot, seven-month bid centered on defeating Donald Trump.

Christie, who has taunted Trump more than any other candidate in the crowded GOP primary field, failed to gain traction in a party that remains largely loyal to the 45th president. In one debate, Christie called Trump "Donald Duck."

In remarks at a town hall in Windham, New Hampshire, on Wednesday night, Christie said that he had run because a "case had to be made against" Trump. But the one-time New Jersey leader acknowledged he had no path to victory.

"It's clear to me tonight that there isn't a path for me to win the nomination, which is why I'm suspending my campaign," Christie said.

Donald Trump Trump's son Barron makes big call on highly anticipated political debut

But Christie, who could have split the vote of anti-Trump Republicans, said the decision was based on one overriding aim: "I am going to make sure that in no way do I enable Donald Trump to ever be president of the United States again."

"That's more important than my own personal ambitions," he added.

The decision came five days ahead of the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses, the starting gun in the Republican primary.

Christie was polling in fifth place in the Republican primary campaign, about 58 points behind Trump, according to a polling average by FiveThirtyEight. In recent days, Christie had come under pressure to give up on his quixotic campaign.

He had hung his hopes on winning the January 23 New Hampshire primary, but that goal has seemed increasingly out of reach. His exit could help Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and the most moderate contender still in the race.

Donald Trump Trump reportedly promises to gut environmental protections for money in meeting with top oil execs

It is not clear how many of his would-be votes will flow to Haley, or if never-Trump Republicans might simply sit out the primary.

"He was the only one running the true anti-Trump campaign," said Scott Jennings, a Republican strategist from Kentucky. But he added that Christie's exit might offer at least some boost to Haley in relatively moderate New Hampshire, which is seen as the state most likely to spurn Trump in the primary.

Christie (61) endorsed Trump after dropping from the 2016 White House race, but he issued a straightforward apology for supporting Trump in an ad he released earlier this month.

"Eight years ago, when I decided to endorse Donald Trump for president, I did it because he was winning, and I did it because I thought I could make him a better candidate, and a better president," he said in the ad. "Well, I was wrong. I made a mistake."