Former President Donald Trump’s presidential campaign is gaining momentum at the ballot box and on Capitol Hill
Former President Donald Trump continues to pick up endorsements from Capitol Hill as it appears increasingly likely that he will clinch the Republican nomination for president.
Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) became one of the latest GOP lawmakers to back President Trump on Jan. 24 following his historic victory in New Hampshire.
“Competition makes us all better, so I let the primary play out, but this thing’s over,” Mr. Kennedy wrote in an X post.
“It’s going to be Pres. Trump versus Pres. Biden: A choice between hope and more hurt. It’s not even close. I choose hope. I am endorsing Pres. Trump and look forward to working with him.”
After winning in Iowa by a historic 30-point margin, President Trump went on to set records in New Hampshire as well. Not only did he receive the most votes of any presidential candidate ever in the history of the first-in-the-nation primary, but he is also now the first non-incumbent candidate to win in both Iowa and New Hampshire.
Mr. Kennedy’s endorsement followed those of Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), who backed the 45th president almost immediately after the New Hampshire race was called. The move brings President Trump’s total Senate endorsements up to 30.
It also appears to be part of a more recent trend among Republican senators to coalesce—in some cases reluctantly—behind President Trump and shift the focus to November. But with former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley still in the race, that might take longer than they’d like.
Although Ms. Haley will not take part in the GOP’s Nevada caucus on Feb. 8, she has pledged to continue her fight in her home state of South Carolina, where she is targeting a come-from-behind victory.
But even for the former governor, a Palmetto State upset would be no easy feat. There, a 30-point chasm currently separates Ms. Haley from first place, per the RealClearPolitics average of polls. Further, a host of prominent Republican leaders in the state have already backed President Trump.
