THE CONTINENT TIMES – Former biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has decided to end his presidential campaign after a fourth-place finish in the Iowa caucuses. Despite investing significant resources and campaigning extensively in all 99 counties of Iowa, Ramaswamy secured 8% of votes, earning three delegates. The decision to drop out came shortly after the Iowa caucuses were called for former President Donald Trump, who achieved a record-breaking win and appears to be on a solid path to securing the GOP nomination.
Ramaswamy, recognizing the strength of Trump’s candidacy, urged his supporters to rally behind the former president. In a notable move, Ramaswamy called Trump to offer his support for his candidacy.
The Iowa caucuses revealed a clear hierarchy within the GOP race, with Trump leading at 51%, followed by former South Carolina Gov. Ron DeSantis at 21% and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley at 19%. Ramaswamy’s decision to withdraw has prompted speculation about the potential impact on the remaining candidates.
Polls indicate that Trump is likely to absorb a substantial portion of Ramaswamy’s support. According to a FiveThirtyEight analysis, 42% of Ramaswamy supporters nationally consider Trump as their second choice, while 29% lean towards DeSantis, and 17% favor Haley in the absence of Ramaswamy.
The withdrawal of Ramaswamy could influence the dynamics of the GOP race, particularly in New Hampshire, the next state scheduled to host its GOP primary on January 23. DeSantis, currently trailing behind Haley, might benefit from Ramaswamy’s exit, as 37% of his supporters in New Hampshire expressed their intent to back DeSantis, compared to 35% for Trump and 12% for Haley.
As the GOP primary season unfolds, the redistribution of Ramaswamy’s supporters and the evolving dynamics among the top candidates will be closely monitored, shaping the narrative leading up to the party’s nomination.