Ron DeSantis: In a surprising turn of events, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis officially suspended his presidential campaign on Sunday, marking the end of a tumultuous week that followed a distant second-place finish in the Iowa caucuses. The decision, made in consultation with his closest advisers at the Governor’s Mansion in Tallahassee, came after a series of internal deliberations and discussions about the future of his bid for the Republican nomination.
The culmination of these discussions occurred on Sunday morning when DeSantis, accompanied by his wife Casey, retreated for a private conversation in the upstairs residence of the Governor’s Mansion. It was during this conversation that the decision was solidified to pull the plug on a campaign that seemed to have no viable path forward. DeSantis had even prepared lines for the announcement, outlining the reasons for suspending his campaign.
The internal conversations leading to this moment had been ongoing since last Monday night, right after DeSantis secured a distant second-place finish to former President Donald Trump in the Iowa caucuses. Representative Chip Roy, a prominent supporter of DeSantis from Texas, played a crucial role in the final discussions, helping the Governor weigh the pros and cons of leaving the race before the New Hampshire primary and considering the option of endorsing Trump.
According to sources, DeSantis had initially hoped to carry his campaign into South Carolina after the New Hampshire primary. However, financial challenges loomed large, with funds drying up after the substantial expenditure in Iowa. The campaign struggled to raise enough money to stay competitive, prompting DeSantis to reevaluate his strategy.
Despite efforts to understand the shortcomings in Iowa and to gauge his prospects in upcoming states, DeSantis found little improvement in his fortunes. Polls consistently placed him in single digits in New Hampshire, trailing both Trump and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley. South Carolina didn’t appear much more promising.
As the week progressed, DeSantis crisscrossed the East Coast, making stops in South Carolina, New Hampshire, and Florida. However, no discernible shift in his standings was observed. Changes in campaign focus, particularly the decision to prioritize South Carolina over New Hampshire, were signaled to the media, creating confusion.
By Thursday, it became evident to those close to DeSantis that the information gaps had been closed. Despite this realization, the Governor wanted to connect with voters one last time, visiting both New Hampshire and South Carolina for a final assessment of the electorate. After his last campaign event in South Carolina on Saturday, DeSantis returned home to Tallahassee to make the final decision.
In the hours preceding the official announcement, DeSantis canceled planned appearances on Sunday television shows, raising speculation about the fate of his campaign. The decision to suspend the campaign and endorse Trump was ultimately kept within a close circle of advisers, surprising even some of DeSantis’ staunch allies.
While DeSantis had previously criticized Trump during the campaign, particularly on issues like social distancing, masking, and vaccine promotion, there was a consensus within his inner circle that endorsing Trump was the strategic move. The decision, while not surprising to allies, raised eyebrows due to its timing.
As Ron DeSantis bows out of the presidential race, questions linger about the factors that led to this decision and the implications for the broader Republican field. The dynamics of the 2024 Republican primary continue to evolve, leaving observers to wonder about the shifting allegiances and strategies of the contenders in the race for the party’s nomination.
Ron DeSantis:
Read here: Dakota Johnson Set to Light Up ‘Saturday Night Live’ as Guest Host
