Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) urged Trump’s primary opponents to withdraw from the race and endorse the former president, asserting that no one stands a chance against him. She emphasized that unity among Republicans would guarantee President Biden’s defeat in the 2024 election.
“I urge all the other candidates, who realistically have no chance of winning, to withdraw from the race and unite behind President Trump,” she declared on Monday, expressing her thoughts on X, the popular social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
Trump’s victory in Iowa has solidified his position as the leading candidate in the 2024 election cycle, with an impressive 51 percent of the vote. His closest rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, trailed behind with 21 percent, followed by former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley with 19 percent. This strong showing in Iowa reflects Trump’s continued popularity among voters and sets the stage for a competitive race ahead.
Biotechnology entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson have withdrawn from the Republican race due to the outcome of Monday’s results.
The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board recently suggested that DeSantis should step aside in order to give Haley a better chance against Trump in the race. Stefanik’s demands take this suggestion a step further.
According to the editorial board, Mr. DeSantis does not have a clear path to the nomination. He is currently trailing behind Ms. Haley in both New Hampshire and South Carolina. The board suggests that if he truly believes that Mr. Trump cannot win in November, he should withdraw from the race and allow Ms. Haley to directly challenge Mr. Trump.
Both Haley and DeSantis present themselves as better alternatives to Trump, often portraying Trump as effective in the past but not suitable for the country’s future.
Haley’s performance in the New Hampshire polling has been impressive, as the next GOP primary vote is scheduled for Jan. 23. According to polling averages from The Hill/Decision Desk HQ, she currently trails Trump by approximately 8 percentage points in the Granite State. In national polls, Haley and DeSantis are closely matched, but they both still lag behind Trump by a significant margin.
