Republican presidential hopefuls Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis are gearing up for a heated battle as both men vie for support in Iowa, where the caucuses in February offer opportunities to secure their positions atop the GOP. Trump has been increasingly vocal in his attacks on DeSantis, taking aim at the Florida governor’s policy positions on entitlement reform, his loyalty to conservative causes, and even his character. In response, a pro-DeSantis super political action committee, Never Back Down, has begun running paid ads countering Trump’s jabs.
Both men are relying heavily on grassroots organizing efforts to shore up their support in the Hawkeye State. Trump is set to attend a Des Moines organizing rally in the coming days, which has been in the works for weeks and is intended to identify caucus supporters and volunteers. This marks a strategic shift for Trump, who has been criticized in the past for his lack of ground-level organizing efforts during his 2016 campaign.
However, DeSantis is not one to be outdone, with his own super PAC also hiring Iowa staff to begin organizing support for the governor ahead of his anticipated White House bid. Never Back Down has named Iowa Republican operatives to its roster, including Ryan Koopmans, former chief of staff to Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, as it seeks to tap into interested GOP activists in the state. The group has also been airing TV ads in other early-voting states, including New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada.
Iowa has proven to be a crucial battleground for presidential hopefuls with the caucuses historically serving as a bellwether for a candidate’s national prospects. Trump’s 2016 Iowa campaign was widely considered a poorly managed operation, with contact information for roughly 10,000 Iowans interested in supporting him left unprocessed ahead of the caucuses. This time around, Trump’s team is armed with refined caucus data from not just his 2016 campaign but also from two national campaigns. They are building a robust data and digital engagement strategy that they believe will put him in a prime position to win the caucuses once and for all. Iowa GOP strategists say Iowa is a must-win state for Trump, who carried the state comfortably in both the 2016 and 2020 general elections.
With both men doubling down on their efforts to rally support in Iowa, the stakes are high. A strong performance in the caucuses could cement their status as leading contenders for the Republican presidential nomination, while a poor showing would give other GOP hopefuls an opening to launch an upstart campaign. As the battle in Iowa heats up, political pundits are keeping a close eye on what promises to be a fiercely contested primary race.
Leave a Comment