Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has dropped out of the 2024 Republican presidential race and endorsed former President Trump. This comes just two days before the New Hampshire primary.
DeSantis announced his decision Sunday afternoon in a video posted to X, captioning it with a quote from Winston Churchill, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that count.”
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
– Winston Churchill pic.twitter.com/ECoR8YeiMm
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) January 21, 2024
“If there was anything I could do to produce a favorable outcome, more campaign stops, more interviews, I would do it,” DeSantis says. “But I can’t ask our supporters to volunteer their time and donate their resources if we don’t have a clear path to victory.”
“Accordingly, I am today suspending my campaign,” he continued.
In a CNN/UNH poll released Sunday of likely New Hampshire Republican primary voters, DeSantis held only 6% support.
Former President Donald Trump leads the poll with 50% support, with Nikki Haley coming in second place at 39% support.
In his speech, DeSantis acknowledged Trump’s lead in the polls. He then mentioned some of his disagreements with Trump, specifically citing the “coronavirus pandemic” and Trump’s “elevation of Anthony Fauci.”
However, he called Trump “superior to the current incumbent, Joe Biden.”
DeSantis then went on to call out Nikki Haley, stating that she represents “a repackaged form of warmed-over corporatism.”
According to Fox News, Trump reacted to DeSantis’ endorsement by stating that he is “Very honored to have his endorsement,” continuing, “I look forward to working together with him to beat Joe Biden, who is the worst and most corrupt president in the history of our country.”
Trump, who nicknamed DeSantis “Ron DeSanctimonious” during the campaign, told Fox News that he will no longer be using that name: “No, that name has been officially retired.”
“While this campaign has ended, the mission continues. Down here in Florida, we will continue to show the country how to lead,” DeSantis ended his announcement.
