With the GOP presidential field narrowing, given that former President Donald Trump has trounced his challengers vying for the Republican presidential nomination, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) says Republicans should “unite behind” the former president.
“We were told that as the [Republican primary] field shrinks, the polls would narrow,” Noem recently said, repeating the narrative shared by supporters of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), a contender for the Republican presidential nomination.
“Well… the field has been shrinking, and support for President Trump has been growing, now sitting at over 50% (Up from 43% in October),” the South Dakota governor added. “It’s time to unite behind President Trump and focus all our efforts and resources on defeating Joe Biden.”
We were told that as the field shrinks, the polls would narrow. Well… the field has been shrinking, and support for President Trump has been growing, now sitting at over 50% (Up from 43% in Oct).
It's time to unite behind President Trump and focus all our efforts and…
— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) December 11, 2023
Noem’s comments come after she cited an article from the Des Moines Register, detailing the results of a recently released Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa poll, which shows the former president leading all his competitors with 51% support in the Hawkeye State.
Such a whopping statistic represents an 8% increase in the former president’s lead in Iowa from October 2023. It also comes as multiple GOP presidential contenders have dropped out of the race, including Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), former Vice President Mike Pence and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R).
To date, just four candidates remain in the race for the GOP presidential nomination: entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and DeSantis. None of these presidential contenders have posed a threat to Trump.
Trump has enjoyed a double-digit lead in states such as Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina as well as nationally.
In September 2023, Noem officially endorsed the former president, arguing that he is “the fighter that our country needs.”
“I will do everything I can to help him win and save this country,” the South Dakota governor said at the time.
Noem is just one of many prominent Republicans who have endorsed Trump.
Just recently, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), who is resigning from the House at the end of 2023, endorsed Trump and said that if the former president is elected in 2024, he’d be willing to serve in his cabinet.
“I will support the president. I will support President Trump,” McCarthy said during an interview with CBS News, adding that he would serve in Trump’s cabinet if it’s the “right position.”
