7/25/2019 Asbury Park Press front page Thursday, Feb. 11 2016

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By thenumbers

What were the costs,monetary and other-wise? 3A

Reactionsat the Shore

Hear thoughts onChristies decision fromyour neighbors. 3A

Time lineof campaign

What has happenedsince Christies run wasannounced? 5A

Time toreturn to N.J.

EDITORIAL: Its time forhim to clean up themess in New Jersey. 13A

Buoyfor Bush

Donors say candidatehas finally found hisfooting. 1B

The Asbury Park Press, left, shows Gov. Chris Christie announcing his presidential candidacy at his alma mater, Livingston High School, on June 30.After a poor showing in Tuesdays New Ham pshire primary, Christie officially announced he was suspending his presidential campaign.

THURSDAY 02.11.16

VOLUME137

NUMBER 36

SINCE 1879

ADVICE 5D

CLASSIFIED 1E

COMICS 4D

LOCAL 3A

LUXURY LIVING 1D

OBITUARIES 10A

OPINION 13A

SPORTS 1C

WEATHER 10C

YOUR MONEY 8A

More on Monmouth Mall makeover. Page 12A

After trouncing Clinton,Sanders prepares for more

diverse electorates. 1B

HOWELL - Maria Vaccarella beat the rap for whatshe and her supporters said was nothing more than anact of kindness.

But her trial Wednesday on a civil charge of unau-thorized possession of wildlife for rescuing two babysquirrels never started.

Judge James Newman dismissed the one chargeagainst her because of a technicality a flaw in theway the ticket was written.

Vaccarellas attorney, Doris Lin of Freehold Town-ship, argued that the statute under which Vaccarellawas charged did not match the written description ofthe offense on the summons issued by the state Divi-sion of Fish and Wildlife.

The summons used a citation that lists penalties forthe violation of a different statute, Lin said. And on theticket, the words possession of a game animal ap-peared. That pertains to a regulation, not a statute. The

Squirrel rescuers charge thrown outKEN SERRANO @KENSERRANOAPP

See CHARGE, Page 7A

TRENTON - In the end, there was no bluster, noboasts, no angry takedowns.

Gov. Chris Christie ended his campaign for presi-dent Wednesday, bowing out in a Facebook post: Ileave the race without an ounce of regret.

Im so proud of the campaign we ran, the people thatran it with me and all those who gave us their supportand confidence along the way, he wrote.

The New Jersey governor finished a dismal sixth inthe New Hampshire Republican primary, promptinghim to call off a planned trip to South Carolina in ad-vance of the next nominating contest Feb. 20.

Christie said after the vote that he would insteadhead home to reassess his campaign. Campaign spokes-woman Samantha Smith said Christie shared his deci-sion to get out of the race with staff at his campaignheadquarters in Morristown late Wednesday after-noon.

Another early exit

Christie dropped out of the race the same day thatCarly Fiorina announced on social media that she, too,

THOMAS P. COSTELLO/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Republican presidential candidate and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie hugs his children at his primary night headquarters at the Radisson Hotel in Nashua, New Hampshire, on Tuesday night.

HES OUT!

I leave the race withoutan ounce of regret: gov

BOB JORDAN@BOBJORDANAPP

See CHRISTIE, Page 3A

THOMAS P. COSTELLO/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Christie is joined by his son Andrew as he leaves his primarynight headquarters.

TRENTON - The problems that ultimately con-sumed Gov. Chris Christies presidential campaignwere planted in each of the last four years and were al-ways going to be difficult to overcome.

In the end, escape proved impossible, particularlygiven the crowded field of establishment-friendly can-didates backed by big-bucks super-PACs with whomChristie also had to contend.

At the end of the day, it just became a lot of peoplecompeting for that space of votes, a lot of money spentagainst him by a lot of those people. It just wasntenough, said Belmar-based Republican political con-sultant Chris Russell. I actually think he may havepeaked too soon in New Hampshire.

It just was never meant to be, said Monmouth Uni-versity political scientist Patrick Murray.

Oct. 31, 2012: The Obama hug

Two days after superstorm Sandy ravaged New Jer-sey, President Barack Obama toured the Shore devas-tation with Christie. They shook hands at the airportand Obama put his left hand on Christies shoulder in

What exactly went wrongfor Christies campaign?

MICHAEL SYMONS @MICHAELSYMONS_

See CAMPAIGN, Page 5A