Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley brushed off comments from former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie casting doubt on her ability to defeat former President Donald Trump in a one-on-one matchup during an interview with FOX & Friends.

“I mean, look, it’s not a surprise,” Haley said in her first remarks addressing the incident Thursday. “These fellas have been talking like that from the beginning when it was 14 candidates and I was at 2%. For us, it’s always been slow and steady wins the race. It’s the people that decide. We have been putting in 11 months of campaigning not just in one state but every state.”

Christie announced he was suspending his 2024 campaign during a Wednesday evening town hall in New Hampshire.

But before the former New Jersey governor announced he was dropping out, he was caught on a hot mic disparaging Haley and Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), who are battling to be the sole viable challenger to Trump.

“She’s gonna get smoked,” Christie said, apparently unaware his comments were being recorded. “You and I both know it. She’s not up to this.”

He also claimed that his campaign had a better return on investment compared to Haley’s.

“She spent $68 million so far just on TV, spent $68 million so far, $59 million by DeSantis, and we spent $12 [million],” Christie said. “I mean, who’s punching above their weight, and who’s getting a return on their investment?”

Haley, who, like her other GOP rivals, is trailing Trump in polls, implicitly pushed back Christie’s critiques.

“We’ve spent our money right, and we focus on relationships with people on the ground and gaining their trust,” Haley countered on Thursday. “And that’s why you see this has become a two-person race with me and Donald Trump. And, you know, while everybody else wants to discount us, I’ll tell you, we keep moving, and we’re moving for a reason.”

With Christie out of the race, Haley may have a better route to winning the primary in New Hampshire, where independents make up the largest voting bloc.

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Haley already touts the endorsement of popular Gov. Chris Sununu (R-NH) and a solid first- or second-place finish could help the former ambassador overtake DeSantis as Trump’s closest competitor.

Trump leads the field at 61.1%, according to a RealClearPolitics poll average. Haley follows Trump at 11.3% with DeSantis at 10.9%.