Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, once lauded as an emerging Republican figure, has decided to conclude his presidential campaign.
His decision follows an inability to surpass competitor Donald Trump in both polling and the early voting phase of the 2024 race.
DeSantis communicated his withdrawal through a four-and-a-half-minute video released on X this Sunday, just under 48 hours before the New Hampshire primary, the second state in the nominating process.
With DeSantis exiting the race, the primary contest now transforms into a predominantly one-on-one competition between Trump and his former UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley.
Despite trailing Trump in polls and securing a distant third place in the Iowa caucuses, where DeSantis achieved second place with 21% compared to Trump’s 51%, Haley is aiming for a breakthrough in New Hampshire on Tuesday, according to polling data.
In a noteworthy move, DeSantis promptly endorsed Trump on Sunday, despite increasingly critical remarks directed towards his primary opponent during the campaign.
DeSantis from Top to Underdog
Entering 2023, DeSantis was regarded as the leading Republican alternative to secure the party’s presidential nomination, a stark contrast to his status at the beginning of 2024 as an unsuccessful contender against Trump.
DeSantis presented himself to voters as the most industrious candidate, consistently substantiating this claim with tangible evidence.
During the late summer, he embarked on an intensive campaign across Iowa, the first state in the nominating race, meticulously covering both sizable and smaller counties.
His goal was to visit all 99 counties by the time of January’s caucuses, a milestone he successfully achieved by early December.
These campaign tours throughout Iowa were chiefly organized and financed by Never Back Down, the well-funded super PAC dedicated to supporting the governor.
The group’s staff played a pivotal role in orchestrating DeSantis’s travels across every corner of the state, utilizing a red-and-blue bus adorned with his name on each side.