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☆ Trump’s Sweeping Iowa Victory Leaves Little Room for Foes
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Aaron Zitner | Jack Gillum | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Iowa Caucus votes being counted in Urbandale, Iowa, on Monday. Photo: KC McGinnis for The Wall Street JournalIn the end, there was only one lane to victory in Iowa, and Donald Trump had it all to himself. The candidates challenging the former president had hoped to find enough dissatisfaction with him to build their own voter coalitions. Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor, had shown signs in polling of consolidating college-educated Republicans, such as those in the suburbs or college towns of Iowa, as well as voters less committed to conservative causes.

Persons: KC McGinnis, Donald Trump, Nikki Haley Organizations: Iowa Caucus, Wall, South Locations: Urbandale , Iowa, Iowa, South Carolina

☆ What to watch for in the Iowa caucuses
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Eric Bradner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —Iowa Republicans who are willing to brave record-low temperatures are set to kick off the party’s 2024 presidential nominating process with Monday night’s caucuses. Now, Iowa voters will render the first verdict of the 2024 election, weighing in on which Republican should take on President Joe Biden in November. Here are five things to watch in the Iowa caucuses:Will Trump top 50%? The Iowa caucuses have a history of paring down both parties’ fields of presidential contenders. Iowa will once again test whether any other Republican can break Trump’s hold on those voters, who have historically been a crucial bloc in the caucuses.

Persons: Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, Joe Biden, Will, Trump, Haley, DeSantis, who’s, who’d, It’s, ” DeSantis, ‘ Darling, ” Trump, he’s, —, ” Haley, “ Donald Trump’s, Nikki Haley’s, ”, she’s “, CNN’s Dana Bash, “, Michele Bachmann, Pennsylvania Sen, Rick Santorum, Mike Huckabee —, Kentucky Sen, Rand Paul, Kim Reynolds, Vivek Ramaswamy, Asa Hutchinson, Ramaswamy, Hutchinson, Mike Pence, Bob Vander Plaats, Koch, Huckabee, Santorum, Texas Sen, Ted Cruz, what’s, “ He’s, they’re, ” “ That’s, I’m Organizations: CNN, Iowa Republicans, South Carolina Gov, Florida Gov, Republican, Will Trump, GOP, Des Moines Register, NBC, Trump, United Nations, Minnesota, Iowa, Arkansas Gov, Kentucky, South Carolina —, Prosperity, Texas, Democratic, New Hampshire —, Praetorian Guard, Fox News Locations: Florida, Iowa, Dubuque, “, Indianola, New Hampshire, South Carolina, DeSantis, Des, “ Iowa, Haley , Iowa, Pennsylvania, Waukee, , Iowa

☆ DeSantis vows to stay in presidential race ahead of Iowa caucuses
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Kit Maher | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Ron DeSantis on Sunday vowed to stay in the presidential race for the “long haul” despite a poor showing in the final Iowa poll before Monday’s caucuses. Overall, 48% of likely caucusgoers say Trump would be their first choice, 20% name former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, and 16% DeSantis, with the rest of the field below 10%. “Obviously, we want people to be safe, but we will be there to help people if they need. The day after the Iowa caucuses, DeSantis is scheduled to attend an event in South Carolina before heading to New Hampshire for another event and to participate in a CNN town hall.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, “ We’ve, ” DeSantis, CNN’s Jake Tapper, “, ”, Donald Trump, Trump, Nikki Haley, DeSantis Organizations: CNN, Florida Gov, Union, Des Moines Register, NBC, Republican, South Carolina Gov Locations: Iowa, “ State, Florida, , Iowa, South Carolina, New Hampshire

For Davis, who will also serve as a Trump caucus captain on the night of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, the connection is deeply personal. Ron DeSantis, Trump’s campaign is hoping for the kind of blowout that will blunt his rivals' momentum as he tries to lock up the nomination and pivot to the general election. To attract new participants, the Trump campaign produced an animated “Schoolhouse Rock!”-style video and sent mailers that tell voters their caucus sites. Trump’s campaign cites other advantages. It's a difference that matters, said Dan Heffernen, 64, a Trump caucus captain who owns a small construction business in Altoona.

Persons: — Donald Trump, ”, Melissa Davis, Davis, Martin Luther King Jr, “, Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, ” Trump, Jason Miller, Haley, DeSantis, ” DeSantis, Koch, Drew Klein, Klein, Trump, Texas Sen, Ted Cruz, Chris LaCivita, Ivanka, Dan Heffernen, Heffernen, Cheryl Heffernen, “ I’ve, “ We’re, Miriam Schultz, Thomas Beaumont Organizations: America, Trump, Florida Gov, Bloomberg News, AFP, GMC, DeSantis, Des Moines Register, NBC, Associated Press Locations: URBANDALE, Iowa, Florida, Des Moines, “, America, Windsor Heights, snowbanks, Texas, Altoona, Des Moines , Iowa

☆ DeSantis is fighting for his political life along Iowa’s icy campaign trail
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

But on the eve of the caucuses, DeSantis is on the brink in a state where he’s banked his entire campaign. Big donors soon discovered that the Florida governor could be a flat and uninspiring candidate. It was a cringeworthy moment that could become a pitiful emblem of busted hopes if the Florida governor doesn’t mount a comeback on Monday. “If the number that we have is anywhere close to reality, he’s going to have a very, very good night,” Vander Plaats said. An Iowa defeat for DeSantis would be especially bitter, because after months on the trail, he’s a far more polished candidate.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump, DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Trump, “, ” DeSantis, he’s, – Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, Scott Walker, Haley, ”, Jake Tapper, It’s, Trump’s, Anthony Fauci, invigorated, weaponizing, she’s, DeSantis remorselessly, Ron, doesn’t, Mike Huckabee, Pennsylvania Sen, Rick Santorum, Texas Sen, Ted Cruz, Bob Vander Plaats, ” Vander Plaats, He’s, “ Donald Trump, Steve Deace, “ Ron DeSantis, ” Deace, postmortems, “ He’s, That’s, I’m, Fox, Bob Rommel Organizations: Des Moines , Iowa CNN, Florida Gov, Republican, GOP, Republicans, Des Moines Register, NBC, South Carolina Gov, PAC, Wisconsin Gov, South, Trump, Iowa, Walt Disney Company, Yale, Harvard, Elon, Twitter, CNN, West, Arkansas Gov, Texas, Fox News, Fox Locations: Des Moines , Iowa, Florida, Iowa, South Carolina, New Hampshire, “ State, Texas, West Des Moines, Pennsylvania, Urbandale , Iowa, Naples

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley pushed across ice-cold Iowa Saturday to find voters open to an alternative to former President Donald Trump with just two days before the state's caucuses open the Republican primary calendar. DeSantis in particular is under great pressure in Iowa given his campaign's heavy bet on a strong finish in the caucuses. Courtney Raines, a special education teacher, came to hear Haley on Saturday morning and said she would try to see DeSantis later in the day. Carroll Hinchion, a 30-year-old independent, is considering caucusing with Republicans as well and came to hear DeSantis in Council Bluffs. “The Republican caucus that’s going to happen on Monday night is going to send a shockwave.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Donald Trump, Trump, ”, DeSantis, Haley, “ You’re, Michael Durham, braved, Durham, Courtney Raines, “, Raines, Koch, Patti Parlee, Parlee, ” Parlee, Julie Slinger, Joe Biden, Slinger, Carroll Hinchion, Hinchion, Biden, ” Trump, Bob Dole, Kari Lake, that’s, Mariannette Miller, Meeks, Ashley Hinson, Miller, Trump’s, Texas Sen, Ted Cruz, ___ Beaumont, Colvin, Barrow, Meg Kinnard, Hannah Fingerhut Organizations: Republican, Trump, South, Prosperity, Koch Brothers, AFP, ” Independents, Democratic, Democrat, Senate, Associated Press Locations: Iowa, Mississippi, Davenport, New Hampshire, ”, Florida, Bluffs , Iowa, DeSantis, Durham, Bluffs, South Carolina, Urbandale, Iowa City, Arizona, , Iowa, Texas, Miller, Iowa City , Iowa, Urbandale , Iowa, Atlanta, Cedar Falls , Iowa, Davenport , Iowa

☆ Iowans weigh Trump’s legal woes as they decide who to back in caucuses
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Arit John | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Ames, Iowa CNN —Teresa Garman has attended decades worth of Iowa caucuses, but views Monday’s meeting as the most consequential. In interviews, Iowans expressed an array of opinions on Trump’s legal problems, from anger over what they say they believe is a “witch hunt,” echoing the former president’s criticism, to a desire to move on and focus on issues plaguing the country. Among those who were not considering the former president, 57% said Trump was controversial and 48% said they were concerned about his legal issues. “If Trump is the nominee, it’s going to be about January 6, legal issues, criminal trials,” DeSantis said during a CNN debate Wednesday. “I think that Vivek is, in a roundabout way, even better for Trump than Trump being in there,” Sherman said.

Persons: Iowa CNN — Teresa Garman, Ron DeSantis –, he’ll, Donald Trump, “, Trump, ”, ” Trump, –, Iowans, Nikki Haley, DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, Haley, Ramaswamy, Donald Trump Jr, Joe Biden, ” Marian Webster, she’s, Biden, – Webster, it’s, ” DeSantis, Sandy Wigdahl, It’s, ” Dan Boyle, caucusing, Boyle, “ He’s, He’s, ” Boyle, I’ll, Trump’s, Pat Goodman, Goodman, ” Goodman, ” Ramaswamy, Loren Sherman, Vivek ”, Sherman, Vivek, ” Sherman, “ Vivek, Ebony Davis, Kit Maher, Veronica Stracqualursi Organizations: Iowa CNN, Ames, Florida Gov, Iowa, Trump, ” Trump –, GOP, Hawkeye State, Former South Carolina Gov, CBS, Tower, CNN, UN, West Des Moines, Ramaswamy Locations: Ames, Iowa, Florida, Colorado, New York, Urbandale, Ankeny, Des Moines, Clive, West Des, Waukee

“He’s got basically a Praetorian Guard of the conservative media — Fox News, the websites, all this stuff,” Mr. DeSantis told reporters outside his campaign headquarters in Urbandale, Iowa. When Mr. DeSantis was a House member, he became a star among conservatives through appearances on Fox News. Fox News hosted Mr. Trump just this week for a live town hall from Iowa. To that end, Mr. DeSantis used his line about Mr. Trump’s Praetorian Guard during an interview with MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” before deploying it again on Friday. As for other conservative media outlets, Newsmax — often friendly to Mr. Trump — aired a Christmas special about Mr. DeSantis and his family late last year.

Persons: Donald J, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Trump, DeSantis, “ He’s, —, Mr, “, they’re, That’s, I’m, that’s, Rupert Murdoch, “ DeFuture ”, DeSantis’s, Trump’s, MSNBC’s, Joe ” Organizations: Fox News, Republican, CNN, Gov, Praetorian Guard, — Fox News, New, New York Post, Fox, Trump, MSNBC, Trump’s Praetorian Guard Locations: Trump’s, Iowa, Florida, Urbandale , Iowa, New York

☆ Trump mines data trove in Iowa to avoid mistakes of 2016 loss
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Nathan Layne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

[1/5] Volunteers gather at the Donald Trump 2024 campaign headquarters in Iowa ahead of a door-knocking event in Urbandale, Iowa, U.S., October 14, 2023. Reuters interviews with nearly 40 party leaders, Trump staff and campaign volunteers in Iowa show how the former president has learned from his past mistakes. In 2016, Trump, thinking he had little chance of winning Iowa, kept his operation in the state threadbare. "I don't think people realize in 2016 how shoestring that was," said Jeff Kaufmann, chairman of the Iowa Republican Party, referring to the Trump campaign. In 2016 Trump didn't have the staffing or digital infrastructure to follow up on such leads, meaning many Trump supporters like Jones and her husband stayed home on caucus night.

Persons: Donald Trump, Nathan Layne, Trump, Ted Cruz, Jeff Kaufmann, Rachel Paine Caufield, Trump's, Ron Desantis, Alex Latcham, we've, Ann Jones, Jones, Marshall Moreau, Cris Christenson, DeSantis, he's, Jonah Jones, Adel, Ross Colvin, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Volunteers, REUTERS, DES, Trump, Iowa Republican Party, Sunday Trump, Drake University, Reuters, DeSantis, Hawkeye State, Ipsos, Iowa, Christian, Republican, Thomson Locations: Iowa, Urbandale , Iowa, U.S, , Iowa, Sioux City, Florida, Cruz, Adel, Des Moines, Clive , Iowa, Adel , Iowa

The rivalry game between Iowa and Iowa State always ratchets up the intensity of both fan bases every year, even if the two programs are unranked as they are this season. Five Iowa State players who were projected to be starters before the season are suspended. Other football players are suspended as the two schools head into their 70th overall meeting in a series that began in 1894. Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers, running back Jirehl Brock, offensive lineman Jacob Remsburg, tight end DeShawn Hanika and defensive lineman Isaiah Lee were charged. Both teams won their openers last week, and the absences of the suspended players did not appear to make an impact.

Persons: Ames, Donald Trump, “, Kirk Ferentz, ”, Tom Stawniak, Stawniak, Max Urick, ” Stawniak, Garrett Yager, You’ve, Hunter Dekkers, Jirehl Brock, Jacob Remsburg, Isaiah Lee, Noah Shannon, Michele Wiggins, ” Wiggins, there’s, Schultz, John Albeck, Nick Allman, they're, John Bohnenkamp Organizations: Iowa State, Five Iowa State, NCAA, Hawkeyes, ” Iowa’s, Criminal Investigations, Iowa, Cyclones, Associated Press, AP Locations: Iowa, ” Iowa, Urbandale , Iowa, Bellevue , Nebraska, Omaha , Nebraska, Omaha, Iowa City

☆ Vivek Ramaswamy has Iowa voters curious, but not yet committed, after standout debate
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-27 | by ( Aaron Pellish | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +19 min

That’s the true mark of a real milestone on this campaign,” Ramaswamy joked. For many voters in Iowa, the debate was their introduction to the 38-year-old candidate. A survey of potential Republican primary voters who watched the debate conducted by The Washington Post, FiveThirtyEight and Ipsos showed 26% of voters thought Ramaswamy won the debate, second highest behind DeSantis. Still, the Ramaswamy campaign said it raised $600,000 in the day after the debate, the largest single-day total since its launch. The Ramaswamy campaign plans to continue visiting Iowa and answering voter questions like Christensen’s around the state, Chapman told CNN.

Persons: Vivek Ramaswamy’s, Ramaswamy, ” Ramaswamy, Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump, “ I’m, ” Mara Brown, Brown, she’s, ”, Mike Pence, Chris Christie, Nikki Haley, ” Haley, “, Ipsos, Ramaswamy’s, Melissa Berry, she’d, ” Berry, he’s, Jake Chapman, ” Chapman, That’s, Vivek Ramaswamy, Apoorva, Ramaswamy hadn’t, didn’t, Milt Van Grundy, Van Grundy, Trump, who’s, Haloti Tukuafu, Joe Biden, “ Trump, Vivek, ” Tukuafu, Pam McCumber –, –, “ He’s, ” McCumber, DeSantis, Haley, Pence, Gene Smith, Terry, pushback Trump, ” Gay Lee Wilson, ” Wilson, ‘ There’s, Cory Christensen, ” Christensen, Richard Nixon’s, Christensen, Nikki, you’ve, you’re, ’, “ There’s, Chapman, Hillary Ferrer, leapfrog DeSantis, He’s, ” Ferrer Organizations: Iowa CNN —, Republican, Florida Gov, CNN, Trump, ”, Former New Jersey Gov, South, United Nations, The Washington Post, Atlantic, Quinnipiac, Republicans, “, America, NATO, Raytheon Locations: Urbandale, Iowa, Des Moines , Iowa, South Carolina, Russia, China, Ukraine, Taiwan, Israel, America, Milwaukee, Winterset , Iowa, Ramaswamy’s Iowa, Ohio, Marshalltown , Iowa, Washington ,, Florida, Indianola, Maui, Clarion , Iowa, Newton , Iowa, “, Des Moines, Pleasant Hill , Iowa, Waukee , Iowa, Winterset, Pella , Iowa

“My personal favorite was Nikki Haley,” Sarcone told CNN of the former South Carolina governor after watching Wednesday’s debate at her Urbandale home in the Des Moines suburbs. Betsy Sarcone, right, watches the GOP debate with her parents Russ and Susan Sanders. To that end, these were the two biggest takeaways from our group: Haley made a strong impression, and Ramaswamy stirs an undercard version of the Trump GOP divide. “Some Trump people may have found that attractive about Ramaswamy, right?” Betsy Sarcone said. She personally would be my favorite candidate right now.

Persons: Betsy Sarcone, Nikki Haley, ” Sarcone, ’ ” Chris Mudd, Donald Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy, Mudd, “ I’m, ” Mudd, “ Trump, Vivek, Russ, Susan Sanders, Allie Malloy, Haley, Ramaswamy, Trump, Ron DeSantis, Sarcone, “ Haley, DeSantis, Priscilla Forsyth, “ Nikki Haley, ” Forsyth, Chris Mudd, Jeremy Moorhead, “, … I’ve, MAGA, Forsyth, …, He’s, ” Priscilla Forsyth, CNN Sarcone, Susan, Jaclyn Taylor, ” Taylor, ” Jaclyn Taylor, CNN Taylor, South Carolina Sen, Tim Scott, Taylor Organizations: CNN, South, USA, GOP, Republican, Trump GOP, Republican Party, Florida Gov, caucused, Trump, United Nations, “, Trump One Locations: South Carolina, Des Moines, “, Cedar Falls, Milwaukee, Iowa, Florida, Sioux City, Forsyth, DeSantis

☆ A GOP divide in Iowa over Trump -- and over the truth
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( John King | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Mudd does not dispute this but says he would have more confidence if states followed the same procedures. “Nothing about that deal is the American way, I don’t think,” Mudd Sr. says of the latest Trump indictment. And it vividly captures the country’s red state-blue state divide, which includes what you think of Trump and where you get your news. Taylor supported Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in the 2016 caucuses, but voted for Trump in November 2016 and again in 2020. Shopping around is an Iowa tradition, but both understand that a splintered field eventually helps Trump, as it did in 2016.

Persons: John King’s, “ Anderson Cooper, Chris Mudd, ” Mudd, “, Joe Biden’s, Mudd, Donald Trump, Donald Trump’s, I’m, Trump, John King, Allison Malloy, CNN “, ”, Biden, Jim Mudd, Republicans don’t, Ronald Reagan, Tracey Mudd, Chris ’, Rob Mudd, that’s, Hunter Biden’s, Tucker Carlson, Hunter Biden, ” Rob Mudd doesn’t, Volodymyr, Zelensky, Vivek Ramaswamy’s, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, ” Chris Mudd, Priscilla Forsyth, Howard Dean, John Edwards, ” Forsyth, ” She’s, isn’t, doesn’t, Forsyth, King, Jaclyn Taylor, Taylor, Texas Sen, Ted Cruz, sighs, Carolina Sen, Tim Scott, Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, CNN Betsy Sarcone, ” Sarcone, Florida Sen, Marco Rubio, Hillary Clinton, Sarcone, “ We’ve, ” Taylor Organizations: Waterloo , Iowa CNN, Republican, GOP, CNN, Republicans, America, Fox, today’s Republican, Trump, NATO, RFK, Texas, Biden, Former United Nations, Florida, Biden –, Republican Party, Iowa Locations: Iowa, Waterloo , Iowa, Cedar Falls , Iowa, Ohio, Texas, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Cedar Falls, American, Ukraine, Sioux City, Woodbury, Des Moines, Metro Des Moines, Waukee, ”, Carolina, Clive , Iowa, Urbandale, Florida

☆ Now that DeSantis has made attacking 'woke' his signature move, Trump says he doesn't like the word because 'half the people' who use it 'can't even define it'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Donald Trump says he doesn't like the word "woke," despite using it many times in the past. Ron DeSantis appears to love using the word, boasting that "Florida is wear woke goes to die." "I don't like the term 'woke' because I hear 'woke woke woke' — you know it's like just a term they use, half the people can't even define it, they don't know what it is," Trump said. Trump has used the word "woke" countless times over the years in speeches, official statements, and online posts. Taryn Fenske, communications director for DeSantis, said woke was a "slang term for activism … progressive activism" as well as a belief in systemic injustices, Florida Politics reported.

Persons: Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, —, Trump, wokeness, Taryn Fenske, DeSantis, Ryan Newman Organizations: Service, Florida Gov, Kids, Employees, Florida Politics Locations: Florida, Urbandale , Iowa

☆ Trump and DeSantis escalate feud in dueling campaign events
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Kate Sullivan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Ron DeSantis on Thursday escalated their ongoing feud at dueling campaign events in Iowa and New Hampshire amid DeSantis’ first campaign swing as a declared 2024 candidate. You don’t want him as your president,” Trump said at a campaign event in Urbandale, Iowa. DeSantis hasn’t been taking questions from the podium from attendees at his campaign events since he kicked off his campaigning this week. As Trump held back-to-back campaign events in Iowa on Thursday, buses and billboards from the DeSantis-aligned super political action committee Never Back Down were in the parking lot at at least two of his events. At one Trump event a member of the super PAC was handing out fliers to attendees criticizing Trump for suggesting the six-week abortion ban DeSantis signed into law in Florida was “too harsh.”

Persons: Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis ’, Trump, “, ” Trump, DeSantis, we’re, Trump’s, “ They’re, ” DeSantis, DeSantis hasn’t Organizations: CNN, Florida Gov, Trump, ”, Associated Press, PAC Locations: Iowa, New Hampshire, Florida, Urbandale , Iowa, Rochester , New Hampshire

☆ Republicans to hold their first presidential debate in Wisconsin
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Tim Reid | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Republican presidential candidate and former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley attends a campaign, after announcing her 2024 presidential campaign, in Urbandale, Iowa, U.S., February 20, 2023. REUTERS/Scott MorganFeb 23 (Reuters) - The U.S. Republican Party's presidential candidates will hold their first debate of the primary season in the battleground state of Wisconsin in August, the party announced on Thursday. The Republican National Committee's debates committee voted to hold the debate in Milwaukee, and wants all participating candidates to sign a loyalty pledge vowing to support the eventual White House nominee. Televised debates can play a critical role in making and breaking candidacies and shaping the perceptions of White House hopefuls in the minds of voters. Wisconsin is one of a handful of presidential swing states that will be crucial to the eventual nominee's hopes of winning the White House in the November 2024 election.

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