One less obstacle in Donald Trump’s path. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, once seen as the former US president’s main rival on the road to the Republican nomination, announced on Sunday that he was throwing in the towel and rallying behind the billionaire ahead of the November presidential election. . His announcement comes two days before the primary in the American state of New Hampshire, where polls placed him far behind.
Ron DeSantis, with tough positions on immigration and abortion, came second during the Iowa caucuses on Monday, with only 21% of the vote against 51% for the former tenant of the White House. “I cannot ask our volunteers to give their time and money if we do not have a clear path to victory,” he justified in his video, in front of American flags. “I have had disagreements with Donald Trump, like on the coronavirus pandemic,” but “Trump is better than the current incumbent, Joe Biden,” added the 45-year-old.
Often described as the rising star of his party last year, Ron DeSantis has gradually lost the dynamic that had carried him. He had already canceled all his television interviews this weekend, suggesting his decision. The boss of the “Sunshine State” has made Florida a laboratory for conservative ideas. He made headlines in American newspapers with his fight against supposed “right thinking”.
He made a name for himself nationally during the Covid-19 pandemic with speech hostile to health measures. He also joined governors of other Republican states in sending migrants to Democratic cities in the north and east of the country. But the lack of charisma of this man with a compact physique and rare smile was also criticized during the campaign.
Nikki Haley, Trump’s ultimate rival
Her withdrawal from the race makes former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley the final obstacle to nominating ultra-favorite Donald Trump as her party’s nominee. “I want to tell Ron that he ran a very good campaign,” responded Nikki Haley, according to a video from American media in New Hampshire, and re-shared by the candidate. “Now there’s only one guy and one lady left” in the race, she stressed. Black American senator Tim Scott also threw in the towel this week and announced his support for Donald Trump.