Trump's main Republican rival has withdrawn from the US election. What to expect?
Ron DeSantis decides to withdraw his candidacy for the US presidency from the Republican Party
Ron DeSantis has decided to end his participation in the race for the US presidential nomination from the Republican Party and expressed his support for Donald Trump, who is seeking a second term.
The Governor of Florida announced the decision in a video message posted on the social network X, formerly Twitter, on January 21.
Desantis' decision comes amid a key primary in the New Hampshire race. G South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley remains the only candidate who can compete with Trump for the Republican presidential nomination
But according to a poll conducted by Suffolk University, NBC10 Boston and the Boston Globe, Donald Trump's support has increased by 3 percentage points. He now has 60% of the support, while his rival, Nikki Haley, received 38%.
The survey was conducted on January 21-22, and its margin of error is 4.4%.
Haley is in a situation where she needs to prove herself serious as a rival to Trump. This is especially difficult given that she only came in third in the Iowa caucuses, which is not very encouraging. New Hampshire is considered a more moderate state than Iowa and is known for its large number of independent voters who traditionally support moderate candidates.
Nikki Haley is focusing on this state in her campaign, although Trump himself criticizes her for this, believing that she is forming an "unnatural alliance with those who are Republicans in name only." It should be noted that, even with a 36% result, Haley is far behind Trump, and Ron DeSantis, by urging his electorate to support Trump, could further strengthen his position.
Donald Trump, focusing his efforts on countering his opponent, has already expressed sharp criticism, calling her not strict enough and not very smart. In addition, he brought to New Hampshire support from South Carolina lawmakers, hinting that even in her home state, she could lose.
Additionally, Senator Tim Scott, a former ally of Nikki Haley, unexpectedly made a call to vote for Donald Trump.
Despite this, Haley does not miss an opportunity to attack her opponent. Her rhetoric has become more aggressive, casting doubt on Trump's mental abilities and accusing him of sympathizing with dictators and autocrats.
It is also important that the financial support of America's richest donors, who previously supported Trump or DeSantis, such as the Koch family, is flocking to the Haley camp. They are betting on Haley. If the politician's candidacy is approved, Nikki Haley will be the first woman of color to run for the presidency of the United States from the Republican Party.
In theory, Nikki Haley's strategy turned out to be a good choice. The New Hampshire GOP primary is open to independent voters and party members who do not support Trump's conservative populism. With a high rate of college graduates among the state's population (37%), Haley can count on the support of the target audience. She has been able to become an alternative for those who do not support the former president, which has been reflected in her growing popularity in recent months. Haley possesses interpersonal skills that proved to be important and lacking in her rival DeSantis. Her policies and campaign tone have been associated with a return to the ethics of the Republican Party that Trump represented. In her campaign, she expresses more compromise and avoids grievance politics and conspiracy theories, which may find support among moderate voters. However, not being Trump and having more moderate views may not be enough. If she fails to win in New Hampshire, her chances of success in other states, including her home state of South Carolina, where Trump is popular, may be limited. Republicans who oppose Trump have always believed that the majority of the party does not want him to be re-elected, but the divisiveness of their opponents is preventing them from uniting to secure an advantage.