Ron DeSantis Is Struggling To Gain Supporters In Iowa: The Iowa State Fair is somewhat of an obligation for Republican candidates seeking their party’s presidential nomination in next year’s primaries.
As per tradition, the state will be the first to hold its caucus in 2024. It’s an important test and the first sign of a candidate’s popularity.
A surprise result for an outside contender can boost their support, particularly if others drop out and urge their backers to support another candidate.
Republican candidates converged on the state fair over the weekend, all with different approaches and objectives.
Mike Pence sought to brush off a damaging interview with Tucker Carlson in the state one month prior, while Vivek Ramaswamy opted to showcase his rapping skills to Eminem’s Lose Yourself.
Of course, support for Ukraine and musical talent were not the key focus for many attendees. That honor, predictably, fell to Donald Trump.
Two Hours Of Trump
The former president attracts attention wherever he goes. Granted, the presence of Secret Service agents certainly helps people know where he’s going to be, but his charisma and personality has prompted many to back him for a third bite of the presidential cherry in 2024.
Trump’s attendance at the fair was brief. He rejected an offer for an interview with state Gov. Kim Reynolds, and didn’t bother to speak at Des Moines Register’s “Political Soapbox.” The notoriously germophobic Trump avoided shaking hands with those wanting to see him.
He arrived, made a typically self-congratulatory speech, and left.
Trump’s brief appearance was akin to a visit by a head of state – something he and many of his supporters believe he should be over the 2020 presidential election results. His confidence is evident to the extent where he does not feel the need to campaign in a traditional manner, made only clearer by his reluctance to attend next week’s Republican debate in Milwaukee.
The Difference With Ron DeSantis
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is Trump’s main rival in next year’s primaries despite a seemingly insurmountable deficit in the polls. DeSantis’ attendance was noticeably longer, and showed how important he considers the state to be. Despite this, he still failed to win over the crowd, many of whom jeered his remarks in favor of the former president.
DeSantis is investing a substantial amount of time and resources to win the Iowa caucus next year. He has splashed a large amount of money into campaign efforts there, and has pledged to visit each of Iowa’s 99 counties before voting begins.
If the Florida Gov. is to have any chance of securing the GOP nomination, he needs a strong result in Iowa’s January 15 caucus. A win is not essential – Trump’s lead is so large that a close second could be considered a successful evening – but he certainly needs a closer result than the polls are currently predicting.
An absent Trump while Ron DeSantis completes his tour of Iowa may boost support, but he has a long way to go to win over pro-Trump crowds if he is hoping to secure the GOP ticket.
Shay Bottomley is a British journalist based in Canada. He has written for the Western Standard, Maidenhead Advertiser, Slough Express, Windsor Express, Berkshire Live and Southend Echo, and has covered notable events including the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
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