DES MOINES, Iowa – Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds set a high bar for former President Donald Trump in Monday night’s caucus as she endorses Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to pull off an upset.
“I think it will be bad for President Trump if he doesn’t reach more than 50 [%] “Just so you know it’s not meeting expectations,” Reynolds told Fox News on Monday morning.
Trump, 77, is expected to sweep his competition in Iowa after the Des Moines Register’s caucus-eve poll showed him with a 28 percentage point lead over former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.
In the modern era (since 1972), no non-presidential Republican has won a contested caucus by more than 12.8 percentage points.
“If Ron can get close to that and President Trump is under 50[%]”I think it’s in the game,” Reynolds added. “I think he’s in the best position to meet expectations.”
Iowans are prepared to brave the Arctic temperatures and break the ice in the 2024 Republican race. AFP via Getty Images
Reynolds, 64, endorsed DeSantis in November, breaking with a long tradition in which Iowa governors maintain a studied neutrality in the caucus.
The current governor’s predecessor, Terry Branstad, issued a scathing rejection of Sen. Ted Cruz, the eventual caucus winner, in 2016.
Reynolds’ choice of DeSantis infuriated Trump, who has repeatedly attacked her in the two months since her announcement.
Donald Trump angered politicians he described as disloyal. Getty Images Kim Reynolds has sincerely endorsed Ron DeSantis. Tannen Maury/UPI/Shutterstock
“She went from being the most popular governor in America in two weeks to being the least popular governor,” Trump told supporters during a rally in Indianola on Sunday. “But I thought she was very disloyal.”
Even though polls show him strongly in favor of DeSantis and Haley, the former president has warned his followers against complacency, telling them to “think that we are one point behind because that is how they are going to vote.”
DeSantis, who has stepped up his criticism of Trump in recent days before the caucus, responded to the former president on Sunday.
Donald Trump delivered pizza to first responders in Iowa over the weekend. AP
“You may be the most useless Republican in America, but if you kiss the ring, it will say you’re wonderful,” the Floridian said during an event in Ankeny on Sunday. “You can be the strongest, most dynamic, most successful Republican… but if you don’t kiss that ring, it will try to destroy you.”
DeSantis has invested heavily in a strong showing in Iowa, and his campaign and allies have poured millions of dollars into the race.
However, a series of recent polls have shown Haley threatening to overtake him for second place.
Trump, who has aggressively criticized both Haley and DeSantis in recent weeks, has directed his rhetorical fire at biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, apparently upset by the “Save Trump, Vote Vivek” T-shirts that appeared during the weekend.
“Vivek started his campaign as a big supporter, ‘best president in generations,’ etc. Unfortunately, now all he does is disguise his support in the form of deceptive campaign tricks. Very astute, but a vote for Vivek is a vote for the ‘other side’; Don’t be fooled by this,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Saturday.
“Don’t waste your vote! Vivek is not MAGA. Biden’s accusations against his political opponent will never be allowed in this country, they are already starting to fall! “MAGA!!!”
Vivek Ramaswamy has maintained a dynamic schedule in the final stretch for Iowa. REUTERS
In response, Ramaswamy adopted a measured tone.
“It is an unfortunate measure on the part of his campaign advisors. [sic], I don’t think friendly fire is useful. “Donald Trump was the best president of the 21st century and I am not going to criticize him in response to this late attack,” the 38-year-old posted on X.
Following the Iowa caucuses, the GOP nomination race heads to New Hampshire for the Granite State primary on January 23.
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