This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
PALM BEACH, Florida -- Just two days before the New Hampshire primary, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has quit the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
DeSantis made the announcement Sunday afternoon on X, formerly Twitter.
"Now, following our second-place finish in Iowa, we've prayed and deliberated on the way forward," he said.
"If there was anything I could do to produce a favorable outcome, more campaign stops, more interviews, I would do it. But I can't ask our supporters to volunteer their time and donate their resources. We don't have a clear path to victory. Accordingly, I am today suspending my campaign."
"It's clear to me that a majority of Republican primary voters want to give Donald Trump another chance," the governor continued.
"He has my endorsement because we can't go back to the old Republican guard of yesteryear, or repackage formed of warmed-over corporatism that Nikki Haley represents."
DeSantis still has two years remaining in his second and final term as governor of the Sunshine State.
Trump's campaign issued this statement: "With only a few days left until President Donald J. Trump's victory in New Hampshire, we are honored by the endorsement from Governor Ron DeSantis and so many other former presidential candidates.
"It is now time for all Republicans to rally behind President Trump to defeat Crooked Joe Biden and end his disastrous presidency."
"Nikki Haley is the candidate of the globalists and Democrats who will do everything to stop the America First movement," the campaign noted, adding, "It's time to choose wisely."
Haley responded to DeSantis' departure by saying: "I want to say to Ron, he ran a great race. He's been a good governor, and we wish him well. Having said that, it's now one fella and one lady left."
"And this comes down to what you want. Do you want more of the same or do you want something new?"
Also reacting to the news, conservative activist and filmmaker Dinesh D'Souza said on Trump's TruthSocial: "The important story is not that #DeSantis dropped out. That was inevitable sooner or later. The important thing is he endorsed Trump. That represents a kind of course correction, and also pretty much seals the deal for Trump and the nomination."
Meanwhile, Trump on Sunday was relishing another endorsement, this one from Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo.
Trump said: "A great honor to receive the powerful Endorsement of Governor Joe Lombardo of Nevada. As most Patriots know, after New Hampshire (on Tuesday!), where I am now, Nevada is the next stop in the process - I should get 100% of the vote because it is a CAUCUS, and after looking at the Polls, Ron and Nikki both dropped out. Then, off to South Carolina, where we will WIN BIG! Joe Lombardo has done a fantastic job as Governor, and I look forward to seeing him, and the great people of Nevada, very soon!"
And Saturday night, Trump indicated: "As you know, earlier this week we had a historic victory in IOWA. Now is the time for the Republican Party to UNIFY. Instead of wasting hundreds of millions of dollars attacking Trump, we need to COME TOGETHER and focus all of our energy and resources on defeating Crooked Joe Biden!"
Trump also posted poll results suggesting a Trump win over Joe Biden, but Haley lost to Biden in the general election in November.
