DeSantis ends campaign, endorses former President Trump

2024-01-21 22:33:04, Kosova & Bota CNA

Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis, once seen as the front-runner to defeat former President Donald Trump, ended his campaign on Sunday, a relatively early withdrawal that underscores the former president's powerful position. within the party.

Mr DeSantis made the announcement in a video on Platform X, during which he also said he would support Mr Trump. He made the announcement two days before the primary election in New Hampshire, where according to polls he had a small percentage of support.

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The 45-year-old Republican had been widely seen as a leading contender for the Republican Party nomination for the 2024 election and a natural successor to Mr Trump, thanks to his combative style and deeply conservative views.

In early 2023, he led in several polls over former President Trump. But support for the Florida governor has been falling for months, due to a flawed campaign strategy, an inability to connect with voters and the unwavering support of the Republican base for Mr. Trump.

Mr. DeSantis' suspension of the campaign means that former US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, is now the last Republican in the race to have a chance - albeit not a very realistic one - of denying the former President Trump the Republican nomination.

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The winner of the race for the Republican nomination will face President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, in the general election in November.

More than 70% of Republicans support Mr. Trump, according to most polls.

Mr. Desantis never managed to convince the majority of Mr. Trump's supporters why he was a better alternative, while Republicans who do not support the former president split their votes among many other candidates.

Ms. Haley, in particular, has emerged as the favorite candidate among moderate Republicans./ VOA