Vivek Ramaswamy drops out of US presidential race after Iowa loss

Indian American biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy said Monday that he is suspending his 2024 Republican presidential campaign after a disappointing finish in Iowa's leadoff caucuses.

Ramaswamy, 38, endorsed his rival, former President Donald Trump. He has previously called Trump the “best president of the 21st century” even as he tried to convince Republican voters that they should opt for “fresh legs” and “take our America First agenda to the next level.” The wealthy political outsider also modeled his own bid on Trump's run, campaigning as a fast-talking, headline-grabbing populist who relentlessly needled opponents.

Trump, meanwhile, cemented his lead in the bid to reclaim the White House with an emphatic win in the first contest for the Republican presidential nomination. Trump, 77, was the front-runner with nearly 50 per cent of the votes. He was almost immediately declared the winner after early margins showed him with an overwhelming lead.

The other Indian-American in the race, Nikki Haley, showed strong performance in Iowa. She and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis were vying for the second spot with almost 22 per cent of the votes counted, US media reported.

Vivek Ramaswamy was trailing on the distant fourth spot with seven per cent of the votes counted.

“Once the DC RINOs are finished crying in their cocktails over tonight's results, it's time for Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, and Vivek Ramaswamy to face reality and stop wasting time and resources," said Alex Pfeiffer, communications director for Make America Great Again Inc., after Trump's massive win.

It was Iowa's coldest caucuses ever, and voters in some parts of the state faced temperatures in the minus 10s with wind chills as low as minus 40.

The campaign now turns to New Hampshire, which will host its primary on January 23 and where Trump holds a large lead in the polls.

(With agency inputs)

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