Trump to be joined by Tim Scott, Ramaswamy and Burgum at New Hampshire rally
FRANKLIN, N.H (TH)- Former President Trump will be joined by three of his primary rivals-turned-supporters at a rally on the eve of New Hampshire’s primary contest.
Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) will all attend Trump’s Monday rally in Laconia, N.H., a Trump campaign official confirmed. It will be Trump’s final rally in the state before Tuesday’s primary voting.
Scott, Ramaswamy and Burgum each ran against Trump in the Republican presidential primary but in recent months suspended their campaigns and backed Trump.
Burgum did so on the eve of the Iowa caucuses, Ramaswamy did so after dropping out immediately after the caucuses, and Scott endorsed Trump on Friday, months after he suspended his campaign without endorsing anyone.
Scott is considered a contender to be Trump’s running mate should he win the nomination, while Trump has suggested there may be a place for Burgum in a hypothetical Trump administration. Burgum announced Monday he would not seek a third term as governor.
Scott spokesperson Nathan Brand told The Hill that in addition to appearing at Trump’s rally on Monday night, the South Carolina Republican would be campaigning all day with Trump in the Granite State on Tuesday and attending his victory party.
Their presence at Trump’s rally underscores the former president’s grip on the GOP as Republican lawmakers fall in line behind him. Several senators have backed Trump in recent weeks, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) endorsed Trump on Sunday after suspending his campaign.
Nikki Haley, the former ambassador to the United Nations, is Trump’s lone remaining major primary rival, though she trails the former president in the polls by double digits in New Hampshire and other early primary states.