Unveiling the Unforgettable Moments DeSantis’ National Humiliation Chronicles

In Manchester, New Hampshire, on a Sunday morning, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis held a crucial meeting with his closest advisers at the Governor’s Mansion in Tallahassee to discuss the future of his presidential campaign. According to a source familiar with the discussion, after deliberating with his team, DeSantis and his wife, Casey, retreated for a private conversation in the residence, ultimately deciding to suspend a campaign that seemed devoid of viable prospects. Upon returning to the advisers, DeSantis had already drafted lines for the announcement signaling the end of his campaign.

This pivotal moment marked the culmination of nearly a week of deliberations that commenced the previous Monday night, following DeSantis‘ distant second-place finish to former President Donald Trump in the Iowa caucuses. Representative Chip Roy, a prominent supporter from Texas, played a crucial role in these final discussions, aiding DeSantis in weighing the merits of exiting the race before the New Hampshire primary and considering the pros and cons of endorsing Trump.

During this week, DeSantis and his advisers grappled with the aftermath of the Iowa caucuses and the financial challenges ahead. The campaign was strapped for funds, unable to replenish the tens of millions spent in the unsuccessful bid for Iowa. DeSantis continued to campaign, seeking answers to his performance in Iowa and prospects for the upcoming states.

Despite hopes to extend the primary fight into South Carolina, DeSantis faced the harsh reality of dwindling financial support. Decision-making wavered, with apparent shifts in focus from New Hampshire to South Carolina and back. Polls consistently showed DeSantis in single digits in New Hampshire, trailing Trump and Nikki Haley. South Carolina did not promise a significantly better outcome.

By Thursday, with information gaps closed, DeSantis embarked on a final tour of New Hampshire and South Carolina, assessing the electorate. On Saturday, after his last event in South Carolina, he returned to Tallahassee to make the ultimate decision.

In the hours leading up to the announcement, DeSantis canceled planned appearances on Sunday television shows, signaling to allies and adversaries alike that a significant decision was imminent. Raising money became an insurmountable challenge, prompting the decision to suspend the campaign.

DeSantis revealed his departure and endorsement of Trump in a post on X. Despite earlier criticisms of Trump’s pandemic response, DeSantis’ inner circle reached a consensus that endorsing Trump was strategically sound. The decision was kept confidential until the announcement, with only a select group of advisers privy to the information. Notably, there were no negotiations or discussions with Trump’s team prior to the announcement, according to a senior Trump adviser.

The conclusion wasn’t a shock to those aligned with DeSantis, but the timing caught many off guard. “I’m not surprised,” remarked Eberhart. “I believed he had the potential to be an excellent president, but he fell short as a candidate.”

DeSantis, once a formidable contender for Trump’s third nomination, faced relentless attacks from the former president months before officially entering the race in May. Early campaign ventures in Iowa and New Hampshire saw him navigating awkward interactions with voters and the media.

Trump’s team mocked him for a technological hiccup during his campaign launch on Twitter Spaces, eating pudding with his fingers, and donning boots with heels, earning him the nickname Ron DeSanctimonious.

As Trump’s attacks intensified, DeSantis’ poll numbers dwindled. Some Republican voters rallied to Trump following his indictment in a hush-money case in New York, further impacting DeSantis’ standing. Despite a more comfortable presence on the campaign trail and debate stage in the final phases, he couldn’t recover from a series of strategic and rhetorical missteps.

Overspending in the summer forced DeSantis’ campaign to cut staffing. The use of a super PAC, Never Back Down, led to legal coordination issues and clashes. With Haley gaining momentum, DeSantis adjusted his goals, hoping for a strong second-place finish in Iowa to avoid embarrassment.

Though DeSantis secured second place in Iowa, he couldn’t shake Haley and ultimately withdrew. Blaise Ingoglia, a close ally, expressed surprise at the timing but not the news. Ingoglia, in a pre-prepared statement, endorsed Trump and expressed confidence in DeSantis’ future endeavors.

While many DeSantis allies foresee a comeback in 2028 without an incumbent president or a dominant Republican figure, the immediate plan involves family time in Florida. There are no scheduled campaign activities with Trump for now.