Trump's biggest Republican rival officially drops out of race

The decision was announced by Mr. DeSantis just 2 days before the important Republican primary election in the state of New Hampshire. This means that former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley is Mr. Trump's only opponent in the internal Republican race, CNN reported.

The suspension of the election also comes less than a week after Mr. DeSantis lost to Mr. Trump in the Iowa primary election despite investing heavily in this state. Many people were surprised by the decision because Mr. DeSantis was considered the most promising candidate of the Republican Party after Mr. Trump.

Đối thủ lớn nhất của ông Trump trong đảng Cộng hòa chính thức rời đường đua- Ảnh 1. — Ron DeSantis campaigned in New Hampshire on January 19.

DeSantis’s departure has left Haley and Trump in a one-on-one battle. But DeSantis’s supporters appear to be more likely to shift their allegiance to Trump than to Haley, who tends to be more moderate. In New Hampshire, about two-thirds of DeSantis’s supporters consider Trump their second choice, according to a survey by the University of New Hampshire Polling Center.

In a video posted on X, Mr. DeSantis endorsed Mr. Trump while breaking up with his female opponent Haley.

According to polls, Mr. Trump has a large lead over Ms. Haley in New Hampshire. His campaign hopes that a second consecutive victory will help him secure the Republican nomination, Reuters reported.

Mr. Trump also leads in South Carolina, Ms. Haley’s home state, which is scheduled to vote on February 24. The former UN Ambassador’s defeat in her home state could spell doom for her campaign.

At a campaign event in Seabrook, New Hampshire, Ms. Haley spoke about Mr. DeSantis leaving the campaign trail: "Now, I will tell you this: May the best woman win."

In a statement following Mr. DeSantis' announcement, Mr. Trump thanked his opponent for his support.

Early last year, Mr DeSantis was seen as a leading presidential candidate thanks to his conservative views and tough stance, and he led Mr Trump in some polls.

However, support for Mr. DeSantis has declined in recent months, due to a flawed campaign strategy and the "unshakeable" support of many voters for Mr. Trump.

According to most polls, more than 70% of Republicans view the former president favorably. That puts Mr. DeSantis in the position of having to appeal to voters who are loyal to Mr. Trump while also appealing to those who deeply dislike him.

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