Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida has pulled out of the Conservative presidential primary, formally endorsing former President Donald Trump.
This announcement, conveyed through Mr DeSantis’s X account on Sunday, followed his recent defeat to Mr Trump in Iowa on January 15, and only two days now before the New Hampshire primary.
“Now, following our second-place finish, we’ve prayed and deliberated on the way forward. We don’t have a clear path to victory. Accordingly, I am today suspending my campaign,” Mr DeSantis said.
The governor acknowledged the inability to justify continuing to utilise the time and resources of his donors and volunteers without a foreseeable route to success.
In his comments, he said he wished his campaign had turned out differently.
“If there was anything I could do to produce a favourable outcome—more campaign stops, more interviews—I would do it. But I can’t ask our supporters to volunteer their time and donate their resources,” he said.
The anticipated endorsement of Mr Trump had been speculated by various quarters since the previous week when the former president showed up twice as strong and resoundingly defeated the governor. The hints of Mr DeSantis’s withdrawal had already surfaced on Saturday, with Mr Trump himself alluding to the possibility during a rally in Manchester, NBC news reported.
A congressman and Trump supporter had said the governor might join Mr Trump’s campaign.
“We might get Ron DeSantis back onside pretty soon,” Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla, said, further fuelling the speculation.
Mr DeSantis proceeded directly to South Carolina from Iowa, a trip expected to emphasise his commitment to remaining in the race until at least the state’s late-February primary.
He travelled between South Carolina and New Hampshire, organising events in the latter with minimal notice for supporters and undecided voters. Late Saturday, he cancelled scheduled appearances on Sunday-morning television programmes, including NBC’s “Meet the Press,” and instructed surrogates to refrain from planned television appearances on Sunday.
As Sunday unfolded, uncertainty loomed among advisers and donors regarding his decision. Speculations were rife, and by Sunday afternoon, it was confirmed that the governor had opted to exit the race.
