Former President Donald Trump routed the Republican field in Iowa and bolted out to a commanding lead in the race for the party’s 2024 presidential nomination. And one of his rivals decided that enough was enough.
The 45th president secured 51% of the tally, far outpacing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ 21% and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley’s 19%. Neither of his chief rivals established themselves as anything more than an afterthought in the drive for the top of the Republican ticket.
Iowa voters braved subzero temperatures on a record cold caucus day to turn out for Trump.
More than even in the months before the Iowa event, it is now apparent that Trump’s victory and rematch with President Joe Biden is a foregone conclusion. His rivals dumped millions into the Hawkeye State only to be trounced.
The previous record high victory margin for a GOP candidate was 12.8% for the late Bob Dole in 1988.
Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump proclaimed, “THANK YOU IOWA, I LOVE YOU ALL!!!”
Trump just landed in New York. He just won the Iowa Caucus and has been up for 24 hours… now he has to go to court in NYC in a couple hours, and then he’s headed to New Hampshire for his rally.
The man doesn’t get any sleep. He is fighting so hard for all of us. And what is… https://t.co/5H994vaRPR
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) January 16, 2024
One of his GOP competitors, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, took the only logical step after the final result became apparent. The longshot candidate announced he had stepped out of the race and threw his support behind Trump.
Ramaswamy took approximately 8% of caucusgoer support.
The now-former candidate told a group of supporters Monday night that he launched his campaign on the premises of “speaking the truth not just when it’s easy but when it’s hard.”
Ramaswamy continued, “It is true that we did not achieve the surprise that we wanted to deliver tonight. As of this moment, we are going to suspend this presidential campaign.”
He confirmed that he called Trump to congratulate him on his Iowa victory. “And now going forward, he will have my full endorsement for the presidency.”
It should only be a matter of time before the remainder of the Republican field falls in line with Ramaswamy’s reasoning. Despite pouring millions into Iowa to make a bold statement, neither DeSantis nor Haley were able to gain anywhere near the traction necessary to tilt the totals.
