Washington, Jan 15: Donald Trump, America’s twice-impeached former President who is also facing more than 90 criminal charges, is set to kick off his bid to win the Republican Party’s presidential nomination with a thumping victory in the first of the primaries held in Iowa state. Trump is projected to win the Iowa caucuses as expected.
CNN projected his victory based on an “entrance poll” – as opposed to the usual exit poll – based on responses from Republicans before they entered venues hosting the caucuses.
The Iowa caucuses are a unique feature of the US presidential election process. The state is the first to vote in the process.But, starting this year, the first only for Republicans; Democrats have announced a parallel schedule for their primaries, kicking it off in South Carolina.
Trump’s victory advances his claim on the nomination but does not guarantee it.
The former President is facing 93 criminal charges and runs the risk of being disqualified from running in 2024; two states have already struck him off the list of candidates for the presidential nominees.
Meanwhile, Indian-American tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy announced that he is dropping out of the 2024 Republican presidential race, and endorsed former US President Donald Trump who won the crucial Iowa caucuses. The 38-year-old biotech entrepreneur told his supporters on Monday night that he is ending campaign after a dismal finish in Iowa’s leadoff caucuses. The political newbie and the youngest candidate in the presidential race was trailing on the distant fourth spot with seven per cent of the votes counted.
“As of this moment, we are going to suspend this presidential campaign. Earlier tonight I called Donald Trump to tell him that I congratulate him on his victory, and now going forward, you will have my full endorsement for the presidency,” The Hill reported Ramaswamy as saying.
Nikki Haley is last one standing against Trump
Indian-American Nikki Haley, the former two-term governor of South Carolina, is the last one standing against Donald Trump, the leading Republican presidential candidate, her campaign said on Tuesday as it released another advertisement in New Hampshire where the next primary is scheduled for next week.
The Iowa results and the New Hampshire polls show Trump, 77, is more vulnerable than commonly believed. He is the polarizing figure he has long been, Betsy Ankney, campaign manager of 51-year-old Haley said in a State of the Race Memo, a day after the former US Ambassador to the United Nations came a strong third in the Iowa Caucus of the Republican presidential race. The Iowa Caucus traditionally kicks off the primary race as it moves to all of the 50 States over the next few months. (Agencies)
