Bookmakers laying odds on the 2016 presidential race have dropped Gov. Chris Christie's chances of winning the GOP nomination as the scandal over bridge closures at the George Washington Bridge continues to unfold.

Irish bookmaker Paddy Power, which as late as Thursday had Christie as the favorite to gain the Republican nomination - laying 4 to 1 odds on it - has dropped Christie behind Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.  Christie's odds now stand at 9 to 2, slightly off those of Rubio, now at 4 to 1.

Bookmaker Ladbrokes has Christie and Rubio tied at 5 to 1, while William Hill still has Christie atop the field at 9 to 2, just off Rubio's 5 to 1 odds.

The odds of Christie beating likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton also have dropped, though they are still roughly in line with bookmakers' odds from November, just after his convincing reelection win.

Paddy Power has Christie and Rubio both at 10 to 1 to win the presidency, while it places Clinton at 2 to 1.

Ladbrokes puts both men at 12 to 1, with Clinton at 2 to 1.  William Hill actually gives Rubio a better shot at taking the Whitehouse - 6 to 1 - than it does Christie, who the bookmaker has at 8 to 1 to become the next president.  William Hill also gives Clinton a 2 to 1 shot at becoming the next president.

In November, just after Christie's reelection victory, Paddy Power put Christie's odds at winning the GOP nomination at 11 to 2 though in recent weeks those odds risen to 4 to 1.  At that time Paddy Power put Christie's odds of winning the presidency at 9 to 1.

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