Ron DeSantis is reportedly seeking an “exit” from his 2024 campaign after a disappointing performance in Iowa – buoyed by Trump supporters' pledge to support him in 2028.
The Florida governor invested most of his resources in Iowa, only to finish 30 points behind Trump there. He has largely ignored New Hampshire, which will vote on Tuesday – and it could be that Nikki Haley defeats Trump.
Instead, he is trying to revive his candidacy with an eye on the Feb. 24 GOP primary in South Carolina, Haley's home state.
DeSantis' efforts were dealt another blow Friday night when former presidential candidate Tim Scott — a senator for South Carolina — endorsed Trump.
The New York Times suggested that DeSantis was seeking an exit from his campaign.
Ron DeSantis can be seen campaigning in New Hampshire on Friday
Senator Tim Scott joined Donald Trump on stage in Concord, New Hampshire, on Friday evening to support the former president in the race for the Republican nomination
Trump spoke highly of Scott even before he dropped out of the 2024 race, sparking frequent speculation that the South Carolina senator could be his choice for vice president
DeSantis, 45, has adopted a more self-reflective and conciliatory tone in recent days, suggesting he may have accepted that 2024 will not be his year.
“Look, my goal is to win the nomination.” “If we had won Iowa, we would have been in a great position,” DeSantis said Thursday in an interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt.
“I don’t want to be vice president, I don’t want to be in the Cabinet, I don’t want a TV show.”
“I'm in the process of winning it, and at some point, if that doesn't work out for you, I'll realize that. 'It's not a vanity thing for me.'
He admitted to Hewitt that his campaign strategy may have been flawed and acknowledged that Trump's strategy had been successful.
“When you win as much as he did in Iowa, it's very clear what you want to accomplish if you want to win the nomination,” he said.
DeSantis said focusing on Fox News and ignoring other networks may have been a mistake.
“I should have just taken care of the ceiling, I should have been at all the company trade shows, I should have been at everything.”
“We had an opportunity, I think, to step out the door and do this and reach a much broader audience.”
DeSantis has also publicly addressed the mood among Trump supporters he met on the campaign trail in recent days and their promises to vote for him in the next election cycle.
DeSantis said Tuesday in South Carolina that Trump voters in Iowa told him they would support him in four years.
“They came to me and said, ‘We want you in 2028, we love you man,’” he said.
DeSantis said Donald Trump's supporters in Iowa have pledged to support him in 2028, he said
He told a similar story on NBC News.
“I've had people come up to me and say, 'I love you, man. This time I will play Trump and next time you,” he said.
“That’s not what I wanted to hear, but when we were there we made an impression and that’s important.”
DeSantis' campaign spokesman insisted her candidate would remain in the race.
Andrew Romeo, communications director for the DeSantis campaign, said DeSantis is in the race “for the long haul,” through South Carolina and beyond.
has reached out to the DeSantis campaign for comment.