DES MOINES, Iowa – The Republican race for the presidential nomination in Iowa has turned into a fierce battle between the candidates, with former President Donald Trump in the lead. During a recent town hall event on Fox News, Trump sought to clarify remarks he made about being a “dictator” and shared his confidence in securing a big victory in the state. Meanwhile, Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis, two of Trump’s main competitors, engaged in a heated debate, taking aim at each other’s policies and records. However, their attacks on each other may have little impact on Trump’s substantial lead in Iowa.
The town hall event held by Trump allowed him to bask in the support of his loyal precinct captains and address some earlier controversial statements. Trump emphasized that he had no intentions of becoming a dictator and revealed that he had a vice presidential pick in mind. His campaign team already had high hopes for the upcoming caucuses and expressed satisfaction with any victory margin of over 12 points.
On the debate stage, Haley and DeSantis knew that this was their final opportunity to undermine each other before Caucus Day. Their exchange centered on criticisms of their respective policies, achievements as governors, and even their choice of hotels. While they did criticize Trump to some extent, their primary focus was on tearing each other down. However, with Trump holding a substantial lead of over 30 points in the state, their attacks on each other may have little impact on the overall outcome.
There was disappointment among Iowa Republicans watching the debate, as they witnessed the two candidates engaging in a mud fight rather than making compelling cases for themselves. The vitriol between Haley and DeSantis was palpable, with accusations of lying and constant plugs for campaign websites highlighting their opponent’s faults. Although they did mention Trump, their main goal seemed to be securing the second-place position.
The intensity of this second-place race reflects its importance for DeSantis, who considers a top-two finish in Iowa crucial for his campaign’s survival. On the other hand, Haley has a bit more breathing room and looks to gain support from Chris Christie’s former backers in order to have a shot at winning in New Hampshire.
In the post-debate spin room, surrogates for Haley and DeSantis tried to justify their candidates’ focus on attacking each other rather than directly challenging Trump. However, with only four days left until the caucuses, the prevailing question is not whether Trump will win Iowa, but rather by how large a margin. Even vocal Trump critic, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, stated that he would back Trump if he becomes the GOP nominee, despite any potential legal troubles.
As the race intensifies, the candidates jockey to secure support from undecided voters. One resident of Des Moines, Denise Best, expressed her support for Trump, suggesting that DeSantis would have been better off running alongside Trump rather than against him. With the Iowa caucuses on the horizon, the focus shifts to the final stretch of campaigning and the expected outcome of the race, with Trump maintaining a commanding lead.
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