Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Drops Out of 2024 Presidential Race, Endorses Trump
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced on Sunday that he is suspending his campaign for the 2024 presidential race and endorsing former President Donald Trump. The decision came just two days before the highly anticipated New Hampshire primary.
In a social media post, DeSantis expressed his gratitude to his supporters while acknowledging the need to prioritize a clear path to victory. If there was anything I could do to produce a favorable outcome… I would do it, he stated. But I can’t ask our supporters to volunteer their time and donate their resources if we don’t have a clear path to victory.
DeSantis went on to emphasize Trump’s superiority over the current incumbent, Joe Biden. I signed a pledge to support the Republican nominee, and I will honor that pledge. He [Trump] has my endorsement because we can’t go back to the old Republican Guard of yesteryear, a repackaged form of warmed-over corporatism that Nikki Haley represents.
The Trump campaign responded to the endorsement with a statement expressing their honor at receiving DeSantis’ support. They also noted that many other former presidential candidates have endorsed Trump after suspending their own campaigns.
In a rally held in New Hampshire on Sunday evening, Trump publicly acknowledged DeSantis’ decision to withdraw from the race and endorse him. Trump expressed appreciation for DeSantis’s endorsement and stated his eagerness to work with him and others to defeat Joe Biden, whom he referred to as crooked.
Following the announcement, DeSantis promptly canceled a campaign event in New Hampshire and decided to remain in Tallahassee, Florida, instead.
Although DeSantis had claimed victory at the Iowa caucuses, where he narrowly beat out Nikki Haley for second place, his popularity in New Hampshire has been severely lacking. According to a CNN/University of New Hampshire poll conducted between January 16 and 19, DeSantis was polling at 6% in the Granite State, significantly lower than Trump’s 50% and Haley’s 39%.
In response to DeSantis’ withdrawal, Nikki Haley declared that the GOP primary contest had now become a two-person race.
DeSantis’s campaign had experienced numerous setbacks and internal conflicts, ultimately leading to its demise. Reports of infighting plagued the campaign, with staff members expressing doubts and losing faith in its success even before its formal suspension.
Moving forward, Governor DeSantis will refocus on his responsibilities in Florida. However, criticism has been levied against him for neglecting his gubernatorial duties in his pursuit of the presidency. In a letter to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, a Florida resident lamented, Our governor roams the political world (Florida be damned) seeking the presidential nomination.
DeSantis’s decision marks the end of a campaign that initially showed promise but ultimately faltered due to internal difficulties and strategic missteps. With the race now narrowed down to two contenders, the battle for the 2024 Republican nomination enters its next phase.
Note: This article was written based on provided details and is generated by AI language model.
