(The Center Square) – Two more primary contenders dropped out of the Republican presidential primary race after former President Donald Trump’s rousing victory in Iowa on Monday night.
But Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Republican former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley both said they were satisfied with their results and vowed to continue their campaigns.
“The media was against us. They were writing our obituary months ago. They even called the election before people even got a chance to vote,” DeSantis told reporters, defending his campaign’s performance.
DeSantis remained upbeat at his chances of becoming the next president.
“You helped us get a ticket punched out of the Hawkeye State,” DeSantis added. “We have a lot of work to do, but I can tell you this: As the next President of the United States, I am going to get the job done for this country.”
Haley took to the stage Monday night and thanked her supporters. The former South Carolina governor suggested that DeSantis should drop out of the race to set up a showdown between her and Trump.
“The pundits will analyze the results from every angle. We get that. But when you look at how we’re doing, in New Hampshire, in South Carolina, and beyond, I can safely say, that tonight, I made this Republican primary a two-person race.”
Republican voters in New Hampshire and South Carolina are up next on the primary schedule.
Haley announced late Monday that she was immediately departing for New Hampshire in an attempt to buoy her 2024 primary hopes.
“Tonight, I will be back in the great state of New Hampshire, and the question before Americans is very clear: Do you want more of the same? Or, do you want a new generation of conservative leadership?”
Biotech entrepreneur and author Vivek Ramaswamy dropped out of the race after coming in a distant fourth place. Ramaswamy thanked his supporters and vowed that Donald Trump “will have my full endorsement for the presidency.”
In his concession, Ramaswamy indicated that he would like a chance at the vice presidency slot.
“I’m not somebody who’s going to be able to speak anyone’s convictions but my own,” Ramaswamy said, “So if that’s a role that I can perform from the vice presidency or any other one, I’m going to evaluate whatever is best for the future of this country. But my No. 1 commitment is to truth.”
Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who received less than 1% of the vote in Iowa Monday, also suspended his campaign.
Polls indicate that the New Hampshire primary will be significantly tighter than Iowa’s. Pollster American Research Group has Haley and Trump tied at 40 percentage points, though Trump leads in other polling. DeSantis will attempt to change his fortunes with a CNN-hosted town hall in New Hampshire on Thursday, a debate that Haley says she won’t participate in if Trump doesn’t which isn’t likely to happen.
