Donald Trump said about Melania Trump’s mother during his Iowa victory speech, “Boy did she take care of Barron, that’s why he’s so tall. He only ate her food.”
The Wall Street Journal’s Editorial Board delivered a straightforward message to Florida Governor and presidential candidate Ron DeSantis in a published op-ed: it’s time to exit the 2024 Republican presidential primary race. The editorial, while maintaining a polite tone, suggested that DeSantis step aside to allow former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley to challenge the current frontrunner and Iowa caucus winner, former President Donald Trump.
The op-ed emphasized Trump’s significant victory in the Iowa caucus, securing 51 percent of the vote and winning all but one county. In contrast, DeSantis trailed in a distant second with 21 percent, while Haley came in third at 19 percent. The piece noted that DeSantis is currently polling third behind Trump and Haley in both New Hampshire and South Carolina.
Highlighting the disappointing outcome of DeSantis winning only 21 percent of Iowa caucus voters despite significant time and financial investments in the state, the editorial suggested that this should serve as a signal for him to step aside from the race.
The op-ed analyzed DeSantis’s campaign strategy, noting his attempt to adopt a strategy similar to that of Senator Ted Cruz by positioning himself to the right of Trump on issues like abortion and presenting himself as an anti-woke warrior. The editorial expressed skepticism about the viability of this strategy, given the limited space in that particular ideological lane. Additionally, it pointed out instances where DeSantis appeared inconsistent, such as wavering on aid to Ukraine to appeal to Trump voters.
Concluding the piece, the editorial argued that DeSantis currently faces no clear path to securing the Republican nomination and suggested that if he genuinely believes Trump cannot win in November, he should exit the race, allowing Haley the opportunity to go head-to-head with Trump. This advice reflects the editorial board’s assessment of the current dynamics within the Republican primary and their view of DeSantis’s standing in comparison to Trump and Haley.
