Ron DeSantis has announced he is suspending his campaign and endorsing Donald Trump for President. Only Nikki Haley is left to face Donald Trump in Tuesday’s New Hampshire primary.
DeSantis drew most of his support from constitutional conservatives, similar to Ted Cruz in 2016. His performance in Iowa was a distant second to Trump, and was expected to underperform in New Hampshire and South Carolina. The Associated Press reports:
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended his Republican presidential campaign on Sunday, ending his 2024 White House bid just before the New Hampshire primary while endorsing his bitter rival Donald Trump.
The decision leaves Trump and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley as the last major candidates remaining in the race ahead of Tuesday’s New Hampshire primary. This is the scenario Trump’s foes in the GOP have long sought, raising the stakes for this week’s contest as the party’s last chance to stop the former president who has so far dominated the race.
DeSantis’s endorsement is an important step in the consolidation of the Republican Party around Trump for the election. He argued that Trump should have taken a different approach during COVID, but his performance in Iowa shows that most Americans are ready to move past it. Fox News continues:
“Very honored to have his endorsement,” Trump told Fox News Digital. “I look forward to working together with him to beat Joe Biden, who is the worst and most corrupt president in the history of our country.”
The Florida governor announced his decision to drop out through a video on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Sunday afternoon.
DeSantis performed very well in the 2022 Florida governor, outpacing most other Republicans including those endorsed by Trump. He will leave office in 2027, which means he could attempt another run for President in 2028 and declare earlier than before.
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