US POLITICS – Ron DeSantis dropped out of the race for the White House and endorsed rival Donald Trump in a stunning move less than 48 hours before the New Hampshire primary.
His Announcement
The Florida Governor, widely considered the future of the Republican party and initially the favorite to take down Trump, announced he was suspending his campaign in a surprise video Sunday afternoon.
What Could be the Cause?
It followed mounting speculation that donors were fleeing and his campaign was struggling to find a path to make a dent in Trump’s huge polling lead.
Trump Replies His Endorsement
Trump said he was ‘honored’ by DeSantis’ endorsement and called for Republicans to ‘rally’ behind the former president’s 2024 White House bid.
DeSantis came second in the Iowa caucuses and largely avoided campaigning in New Hampshire so he could focus on South Carolina – the home state of 2024 candidate Nikki Haley.
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But the writing was on the wall when the campaign fired half its staff, big-money backers were increasingly frustrated with his war on ‘woke’ and top brass were at each other’s throats.
What he Said About Haley
DeSantis channeled Winston Churchill in his farewell video and called Haley a ‘repackaged form of warmed-up corporatism’.
His final warning was for Republicans not to go ‘back to yesteryear’ and confirmed he would support Trump, the opponent who has mocked and humiliated him for the last year.
