[2024 US Presidential Election] Republican Presidential Candidate DeSantis Withdraws... Declares Support for Trump

Ron DeSantis, the Florida governor and Republican presidential candidate, withdrew from the race and declared his support for former President Donald Trump on the 21st (local time). With this, the Republican primary has been reshaped into a two-person contest between former President Trump and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley.

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In a video posted on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on the same day, Governor DeSantis officially announced his withdrawal, saying, "I cannot ask my supporters for volunteering or donations when the path to victory is unclear. I am suspending my campaign today."

He stated, "It has become clear that a majority of voters participating in the Republican primary want to give former President Trump another chance," adding, "Former President Trump is superior to the incumbent President Joe Biden." He also mentioned his promise to support the winner of the Republican primary, saying, "I will keep that promise."

Known as the "Little Trump," Governor DeSantis was once considered a leading candidate to replace former President Trump within the Republican Party, but he struggled as his support declined after announcing his presidential bid. Although he shares a similar far-right stance with Trump, he failed to attract Trump’s base. At the Iowa caucuses held on the 15th, he finished second, trailing former President Trump by 29.8 percentage points. This led to speculation that DeSantis would soon withdraw from the race.

With his withdrawal on this day, the Republican primary has been reorganized into a two-horse race between former President Trump and former Ambassador Haley. They are preparing for the New Hampshire primary on the 23rd. New Hampshire, the second Republican presidential primary state, has been considered a key battleground where other Republican candidates could potentially block former President Trump. Although only 22 delegates are at stake in the primary, the state is known as a "presidential weather vane" due to its high proportion of moderate voters.

If former Ambassador Haley wins or performs well against former President Trump in New Hampshire, some analysts believe that Trump’s journey toward the presidency could be prolonged. Conversely, if former President Trump secures a majority in New Hampshire, Haley could face pressure to withdraw.

Meanwhile, according to a poll released by the University of New Hampshire on the same day, former President Trump received 50% support among Republican primary voters in New Hampshire, leading former Ambassador Haley (39%) by 11 percentage points.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.