TRENTON -- Gov. Chris Christie's now-suspended presidential campaign has sold its email list of supporters and donors to his former chief Republican rival Marco Rubio, the governor's campaign spokesman confirmed Monday.

That means those who supported the governor are now getting messages from Rubio, who was Christie's prime target during the New Hampshire primary. The first e-mail message went out Sunday afternoon.

Samantha Smith, a spokeswoman for Christie's campaign, told NJ Advance Media the decision to sell the e-mail list to Rubio was "no endorsement" and that "it is standard practice for other campaigns to buy lists. ... Anyone can rent/buy the list via the vendor."

Just two weeks ago, Christie was on a GOP debate stage in Manchester, N.H. savaging Rubio as an automaton who endlessly produced the same 25 second soundbite. The junior senator "simply does not have the experience to be president of the United States," Christie said.

But on Sunday afternoon, Christie supporters heard from none other than Rubio.

"The results we got last night in South Carolina were amazing. My opponents and the media had written us off, but we showed them." began an email from Marco Rubio for President. In the e-mail he claimed the Republican contest was now "a three man race" but acknowledged "we have a lot of work to do" and solicited donations.

With businessman Donald Trump rapidly tightening his grip with back-to-back primary wins, Rubio's shot at becoming the GOP nominee hinges on quickly accessing Republican "establishment" supporters, many of which were Christie's, who pulled the plug on his campaign after the New Hampshire primary.

While the email makes it clear that while Rubio's campaign is reaching the sender "because you are a part of Chris Christie's online

community" it cautions that it "is not an endorsement by Chris Christie."

Smith declined to say how much the Rubio campaign had paid for the Christie campaign's email list, referring questions to a Rubio campaign spokesman.

Alex Conant, a spokesman for the Rubio campaign, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Claude Brodesser-Akner may be reached at cbrodesser@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ClaudeBrodesser. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.