Florida Governor Ron DeSantis withdrew from the presidential race on Sunday, stating in a video posted on X that he was unwilling to expect campaign staff members to volunteer their time “without a clear path to victory.”
Two days before New Hampshire voters were about to grant Trump another major victory, Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida resigned on Sunday and backed Trump. Even if the former president is still leading in New Hampshire surveys and the states that follow on the primary schedule, it is now only a contest between Trump and Nikki Haley, the former governor of South Carolina, who has been the closest rival in that state.
“It’s certain to me that a majority of Republican primary voters wish to give Donald Trump another opportunity,” he stated and backed Trump, adding “We can’t go back to the old Republican guard of yesteryear, which is essentially Nikki Haley’s repackaged version of warmed-over corporatism.”
Shortly after DeSantis announced his withdrawal from the race, Haley told reporters, “He’s been a good governor and we wish him well.” She also mentioned that the contest now comes down to “one fella and one lady,” and she wished for the best woman to win.
At times throughout the campaign, the governor appeared awkward and uneasy when dealing with people in public. His attempts to be funny and kind were criticised by some who observed him on the walk.
His campaign has serious organisational issues as well. DeSantis decided to entrust a large portion of his campaign to an outside organisation run by unfamiliar individuals. Internal conflicts quickly became visible to the public. He attempted to cross over into Trump’s territory, failing to recognise the steadfastness of those followers and turning off many moderate voters with his focus on conservative policies, such as abortion rights.
DeSantis’ decision ends an incredible collapse for a prominent governor who was once considered a serious challenger to Trump’s dominance in the Republican Party, even though it may not have come as a surprise given his 30-point landslide loss in Iowa last week. At a rally in Rochester, New Hampshire late on Sunday, Trump adopted a more amicable stance following months of heated clashes, referring to DeSantis as a “really terrific person.”
In addition, Trump expressed excitement about collaborating with Ron to win the general election.
