Trump goes on the attack in Iowa as caucuses grow closer
Former President Donald Trump returned to Iowa on Saturday, November 18, 2023, just eight weeks before the January 15 Iowa Republican caucuses. He spoke at a rally in Fort Dodge, where he mocked his potential rivals in the 2024 presidential race, including President Joe Biden, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley. He also repeated his false claims of election fraud and praised his own record on immigration, trade, and foreign policy.
Trump, who faces four criminal indictments and a possible ban from running for office again, is still the overwhelming frontrunner in the GOP primary, according to the latest polls. A new Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa Poll shows 43% of likely Republican caucusgoers choose Trump as their first choice for president, up from 42% in an August Iowa Poll1. DeSantis and Haley are now tied for second place with 16%.
Trump’s dominance in Iowa is partly due to his loyal base of supporters, who have remained faithful to him despite his legal troubles and his role in inciting the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Many of them attended his rally on Saturday, wearing red hats and waving flags with slogans such as “Trump 2024” and “Stop the Steal”. They cheered as Trump attacked Biden over the Afghanistan withdrawal, the border crisis, and the inflation. They booed as Trump mentioned DeSantis and Haley, whom he accused of being weak and disloyal.
DeSantis and Haley, who are both seen as potential successors to Trump if he is unable to run, have been trying to position themselves as the clear alternative to the former president. They have also been competing with each other for the support of the Republican voters who are looking for a fresh face and a more moderate tone. Both candidates have recently announced they would increase their Iowa presence as the race to Caucus Day enters its final months.
DeSantis, who has been endorsed by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, has been touting his record as a conservative leader in Florida, where he has resisted Covid-19 lockdowns, banned vaccine mandates, and cracked down on illegal immigration. He has also been criticizing Haley for her stance on Israel, accusing her of being soft on Iran and Hamas. Haley, who has launched a $10 million ad campaign in Iowa and New Hampshire, has been highlighting her experience as a former governor of South Carolina and a former UN ambassador, where she defended Israel and confronted China and Russia. She has also been distancing herself from Trump, saying that he “let us down” on January 6 and that the party needs to move on from him.
The other candidates in the GOP field have been struggling to gain traction in Iowa, where Trump’s shadow looms large. The South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, who was once seen as a rising star in the party, dropped out of the race on Sunday, citing his poor performance in the polls. The former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, the entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, the North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, and the former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson are all polling in the single digits. The Texas pastor Ryan Binkley has failed to register any support at all.
With less than two months to go before the Iowa caucuses, the Republican race remains unpredictable and volatile. Trump’s legal challenges could derail his campaign at any moment, opening the door for a new frontrunner to emerge. DeSantis and Haley could either consolidate their support as the main challengers to Trump, or split the anti-Trump vote and allow a dark horse candidate to rise. The Iowa voters, who have a history of defying expectations and delivering surprises, will have the first say in shaping the future of the GOP and the nation.
