Trump Seeks Decisive Victory in Iowa as DeSantis and Haley Aim to Challenge His Supremacy
Trump faces a unique blend of confidence and apprehension as the 2024 Iowa caucuses approach Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley are determined to challenge his dominance, hindering his path to a definitive win and potentially impacting his quest for a third consecutive Republican presidential nomination
Donald Trump's usual air of confidence has been tinged with an unusual sense of apprehension as the 2024 Iowa contest comes to a close. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley are working to prevent Trump from securing a definitive win and solidifying his third consecutive Republican presidential nomination.
During his campaign in Iowa over the weekend, Trump cautioned his supporters not to underestimate the importance of their votes, despite his current lead in the race.
"At a weekend rally in Mason City, Trump urged his supporters to ignore polls showing a 35-point lead and instead act as if they are one point down. Iowa's role in narrowing the field and choosing the ultimate nominee is significant. DeSantis and Haley are making their final pushes in Iowa, hoping for strong finishes to extend the Republican primary race beyond January 15, while Trump aims to effectively secure the nomination on opening night, even skipping a CNN debate."
From left, Donald Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis campaign in Iowa.
AP/Getty Images
GOP contenders spend a hectic weekend in Iowa as caucuses draw near
A decisive win could propel the former president towards the nomination with unstoppable momentum. However, a less impressive victory or unexpected defeat could lead to a prolonged nominating battle and raise doubts about Trump's ability to win the election. Brenna Bird, Iowa's attorney general and a key Trump supporter, emphasized the importance of every vote and the ground game in the caucuses. She stated, "The only thing that matters is who shows up and votes on caucus night."
The outcome of the Iowa caucuses will significantly impact the direction and duration of the upcoming race. DeSantis and Haley are fiercely competing to not only establish themselves as the top alternatives to Trump but also to demonstrate that a substantial portion of Republicans are ready to move past his influence.
DeSantis emphasized the importance of Iowa, stating, "What you're able to do in Iowa is going to reverberate all across this country." He has consistently echoed this message during his campaign stops in the state, urging Republicans to make a thoughtful decision with the general election in mind. "I don't think Donald Trump ultimately can win an election," he added.
DeSantis is putting much focus on Iowa, but is downplaying his expectations and promising not to drop out if he doesn't win. The performance of a super PAC called Never Back Down, which supports DeSantis and has been dealing with internal issues, is a key concern in the final week. Bob Vander Plaats, president of The Family Leader and a supporter of DeSantis, is confident that the grassroots organization will secure a strong second-place finish.
Vander Plaats praised DeSantis's well-organized approach for the Iowa caucus, crediting his strategy of visiting all 99 counties for recruiting precinct captains and volunteers across the state. "I believe DeSantis could surprise the nation," he said.
Haley, with strong momentum and a solid financial start to the year, is working hard to build a turnout operation that usually takes months to assemble. The SFA Fund, a super PAC backing Haley, has become the top spender of the campaign, investing over $30 million in Iowa alone.
The Iowa caucuses have a history of springing surprises in the final days of the race, as voters delve deeper into each candidate's platform. This period of closer scrutiny comes as Haley faces criticism from opponents for her dismissive comments about the need to "correct" Iowa's results in New Hampshire. This backlash followed her failure to acknowledge slavery as the cause of the Civil War, drawing criticism from all sides.
"I can't wait to prove you all wrong," Haley declared in Iowa on Friday regarding her campaign's prospects. "You're all so focused on writing an obituary, but I'm here to tell you that the American people will make the final decision."
Trumps focus shifts to Haley
However, the rise of Haley can be observed in Trump's shift from ridiculing and demeaning DeSantis to targeting Haley, his former UN ambassador. Just a week before the voting commences, his campaign is broadcasting attack ads in New Hampshire while he criticized her loyalty in Iowa.
At a weekend campaign stop, he claimed that Nikki would betray you just as she betrayed me.
Trump's campaign and the pro-Trump super PAC, MAGA Inc., have increased their ad spending to target the former South Carolina governor, especially in New Hampshire, where they hope to slow down her progress.
AdImpact data indicates that MAGA Inc. has invested over $2 million in broadcasting an advertisement in the Granite State that scrutinizes Haley's stance on the gas tax, alleging that "New Hampshire can't afford Nicky High-tax Haley."
Former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley addressed attendees at the Road to Majority's Faith and Freedom policy conference in Washington, DC, on Saturday, June 24, 2023. The conference, which is the largest public policy gathering of conservative and Christian activists in the nation, will include over 70 speakers and an estimated 3,000 attendees, according to organizers.
While on the campaign trail, Haley's presence in South Carolina is seen as both an advantage and a disadvantage. At the same time, Trump's campaign recently released its first ad directly targeting Haley, criticizing her stance on immigration and her opposition to Trump's visitor ban from terrorist nations. This ad is now airing in New Hampshire.
While campaigning in Iowa over the weekend, Haley intensified her condemnation of Trump, stating to a crowd in Bettendorf that the former president was skilled in breaking things, but not in fixing them. She highlighted polls indicating her strong lead over President Joe Biden in a potential general election match-up, outperforming Trump and other GOP rivals. Similar to DeSantis in recent weeks, she criticized Trump for his refusal to participate in GOP primary debates.
"He's avoiding the debate just like Biden, because he's afraid of being asked tough questions," Haley stated.
In Iowa, her campaign released a new ad advocating for a shift in generation at the helm of the GOP. The narrator encourages viewers to envision a president with determination and poise, who offers a unique approach and isn't tied to the past.
Haley's strong showing in Iowa would pave the way for the New Hampshire primary. Recent polls indicate that she has moved into a solid second place in the Granite State.
Despite her progress, Haley is being targeted by both Trump and GOP competitor Chris Christie due to questions about her loyalty to the former president.
"Unlike the other candidates in this race, who are focused on telling people what they want to hear, I believe in delivering the truth. People deserve nothing less," the former New Jersey governor states directly to the camera in a new TV ad.
His criticism is driven by Haley and DeSantis' reluctance to confront Trump on his actions on January 6, 2021, when his supporters stormed the US Capitol in an attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election, a significant potential general election liability.
DeSantis banks on ground game
DeSantis, meanwhile, is banking on his Iowa ground game to outperform polls and expectations.
DeSantis expressed his belief that the upcoming vote would have a significant impact while speaking at Tommys Restaurant in Cedar Rapids on Saturday. He campaigned alongside Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Chip Roy of Texas and stated, "I'm confident that the organization and enthusiasm we have will give us a great opportunity to change the trajectory of this country."
Despite projecting optimism about the caucuses delivering a surprise, DeSantis has recently expressed frustration about several factors working against him. He has accused the "corporate media" of favoring Haley and criticized "conservative radio guys and Fox News people" for not scrutinizing Trump, while overlooking his own unwillingness to directly challenge the former president for months. Additionally, DeSantis has lamented that potential Iowa supporters may be vacationing in Florida on January 15 rather than participating in the caucuses.
"We should have arranged for a satellite caucus site in Southwest Florida," he mentioned last week. "We could have achieved some significant results."
During a stop at Tommys Restaurant in Cedar Rapids, two potential caucusgoers, real estate brokers Jack and Bonnie Sweeney, who were seeing DeSantis for the first time, indicated that they are torn between DeSantis and Trump, with DeSantis being their preferred choice due to the values they perceive him to uphold.
Jack Sweeney stated, "DeSantis is very respectful towards people. I don't think Donald Trump shows the same level of respect. Name-calling does not sit well with us, and religion holds significant importance for us." "DeSantis is more level-headed," added Bonnie Sweeney. "He has achieved many positive accomplishments."
Jack Sweeney explained that although the couple had previously voted for Trump because they believed he had a grasp of business, they now believe that DeSantis has a better understanding of the inner workings of the political world. Sweeney observed that Trump tends to belittle other politicians if he doesn't get his way.
However, not everyone at Tommy's Restaurant was convinced by DeSantis. A likely voter pointed out the challenges that DeSantis, Haley, and other candidates have encountered as they attempt to establish themselves in a political landscape overshadowed by Trump and his legal troubles.
Dan Lyttle, a resident north of Marion, expressed his likely support for Trump, noting that the Democrats' fervent efforts to remove Trump from the 2024 primary ballots in various states have influenced his decision. Specifically, he cited the actions in Colorado and Maine to invoke the 14th Amendment's insurrectionist clause as the basis for contesting Trump's eligibility. The US Supreme Court has recently taken up the case to determine whether Trump can be removed from the ballot in Colorado.
But despite his plans to vote for Trump, Lyttle was wearing a DeSantis sticker.
"They gave us stickers at the door," he said. "That gives me lunch, too."
CNNs Steve Contorno, Veronica Straqualursi, Alayna Treene, Ebony Davis, Ali Main, David Wright and Kate Sullivan contributed to this report.
