MANCHESTER, N.H. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Sunday suspended his Republican presidential campaign, endorsing rival Donald Trump while announcing his 2024 White House bid just before the New Hampshire primary. Canceled.
The decision leaves President Trump and former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley as the last major candidates remaining in the race ahead of Tuesday's New Hampshire primary. It's a scenario that Trump's opponents within the Republican Party have long sought, and the stakes are high for this week's race as the party's last chance to thwart the former president, who has so far dominated the race. ing.
But as some Trump critics cheered, Ms. DeSantis nods to Mr. Trump's superiority and attacks Ms. Haley in a video of her resignation posted on social media.
“It's clear that the vast majority of Republican primary voters want to give Donald Trump another chance,” DeSantis said in an upbeat video to camera.
He added, “I signed a pledge to support the Republican candidate, and I intend to honor that pledge. We can't go back to the old Republican guard that repackaged corporatism.”
Haley spoke at a campaign stop in Seabrook, New Hampshire, just as DeSantis announced her decision.
“He ran a great race, he was a good governor, and we wish him the best,” she told a room packed with supporters and media. “That being said, there are only one man and one woman left.”
Mr. DeSantis' decision may not be surprising given last week's 30-point loss in Iowa, but the high-profile This will bring an end to the governor's unprecedented decline. After months of contentious back and forth, President Trump struck a more conciliatory tone late Sunday at a rally in Rochester, New Hampshire, calling DeSantis “a really great person.”
President Trump said he “looks forward to working with Ron” to win the general election.
His performance wasn't good enough to defeat Trump.
Mr. DeSantis enters the 2024 presidential election with a significant advantage against Mr. Trump, and early preliminary polling suggests that Mr. DeSantis is in a strong position to do just that. He and his allies have amassed a political fortune of well over $130 million and have led legislative efforts on issues important to many conservatives, such as abortion and teaching about race and gender issues in schools. boasted important achievements.
Such advantages did not survive the realities of presidential politics in 2024. From high-profile announcements plagued by technical glitches to constant disruptions to his staff and campaign strategy, Mr. DeSantis struggled to find his footing in the primary. He lost to Trump by 30 points in the Iowa caucuses, which he had vowed to win.
His departure was prepared for many days
Mr. DeSantis' allies said informal talks began shortly after Iowa to determine how to gracefully exit the race.
On Sunday afternoon, the Florida governor communicated his decision to major donors and supporters in a series of phone conversations and text messages with campaign executives, according to two people familiar with the communications. Major donors and supporters have been notified. They disclosed private conversations on condition of anonymity.
DeSantis had a roller coaster weekend, including a stop in South Carolina ahead of an event in New Hampshire on Sunday night that was ultimately canceled, and by then he was back in Florida. The campaign also canceled a series of national television appearances earlier in the day, blaming the cancellations on a miscommunication with DeSantis' super PAC.
DeSantis campaigned for weeks through frigid Iowa and New Hampshire, often without a winter coat, leaving him physically exhausted with little rest.
Fierce competition comes to a peaceful end
He ultimately decided he needed to support Trump because of his popularity within the party, despite a personal feud between the two.
“While I have disagreements with Donald Trump, including the coronavirus pandemic and the elevation of Anthony Fauci, Trump is better than incumbent Joe Biden. That's clear.” said DeSantis, who is serving his second and final term as Florida's governor, ending in January.
The endorsement was a surprising and shocking moment for Mr. DeSantis. Mr. Trump has spent much of the past year relentlessly and relentlessly mocking Mr. DeSantis in deeply personal terms.
For Trump, whose team includes many former DeSantis staffers, the attacks often felt more like a sport than a political strategy. President Trump and his aides have accused the governor of dishonesty for running for office, mocked his eating habits and personality, and accused him of wearing high heels to increase his height.
DeSantis' team joined Trump in attacking Haley as news of her departure rippled through the political world. Some doubt that Haley, who was seen as splitting the Republican vote and preventing a direct confrontation with Trump, would benefit from DeSantis' decision.
“She's not going to be a candidate,” Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), a major supporter of DeSantis, told The Associated Press. “She won't be president of the United States.”
Trump had already shifted his focus to Haley in recent weeks, but minutes after DeSantis' announcement, the former president's campaign released a new memo highlighting the pressure on Haley to win New Hampshire. announced.
“With only 48 hours left until the primary, the tone has shifted dramatically. We see it, you understand it, and there is no doubt that Nikki Haley will lose New Hampshire. If so, there are only two options,” wrote senior advisers Chris Lacivita and Susie Wiles.
“Option A: Nikki Haley will leave, unite behind President Trump, and work to defeat Joe Biden,” they wrote. “Option B: Nikki Haley is prepared to be completely destroyed and humiliated in his home state of South Carolina” (Voting Day is February 24th).
“Then please give us some important advice,” they continued. “Choose wisely.”
Trump himself spoke during a stop at his campaign headquarters in Manchester shortly after DeSantis' resignation was announced, according to a video shared by Trump's staff.
“We got word that one of our opponents, Ron DeSantis, who is a very talented person, is withdrawing from the race. And Ron is dropping out, but in doing so he is supporting us. Trump cheered and shouted, “Trump!” A chant broke out in the volunteer room.
Asked if he would use the nickname “Ron DeSanctimonius,” he responded to cheers by saying, “I said I'm officially retiring that name.”
At about the same time, and not too far away, DeSantis' disappointed supporters gathered privately at a Manchester restaurant where DeSantis was scheduled to speak.
Rep. James Spillane, R-Deerfield, initially supported Mr. Trump, but switched to Mr. DeSantis and said he would vote for Mr. Trump from now on.
“This morning I had my doubts and was talking to some friends and I heard things shaking and I thought this was going to happen and I was right.” he said. “Unfortunately, DeSantis will not be able to move forward. But in the future, we hope that in 2028 we will have a viable method.”
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Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro in Washington; Jill Colvin and Michelle L. Price of Manchester, New Hampshire; Meg Kinard and Meg Kinard in Columbia, South Carolina, contributed to this report.
