Trump’s Closing Argument to GOP Voters
Former President Donald Trump began to outline his closing argument to Republican voters in a speech in Iowa on Wednesday, ahead of the upcoming Iowa caucuses. The leading contender for the Republican nomination, Trump aimed to rally Iowa Republicans by focusing on defeating President Joe Biden. He also took the opportunity to criticize his two main primary rivals, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, who lag significantly behind him in both Iowa and national polls.
Trump’s Commanding Lead in Primary Polls
Trump’s Iowa event, which precedes visits to New Hampshire and Nevada later in the week, comes as he maintains a substantial lead in primary polls. With less than five weeks before voting begins, Trump is seeking to curb any momentum from his rivals. This campaign speech followed a favorable legal development for Trump, as a federal judge has temporarily halted an election interference case, potentially delaying the start of a trial currently slated for early March, during the peak of the campaign season.
Trump’s Critique of Biden’s Economic Policies
Speaking to the crowd in a hotel ballroom in Coralville, Trump argued that Biden’s economic policies have left American families worse off than during his presidency. He suggested that the impact was particularly pronounced this holiday season. Drawing on former President Ronald Reagan, Trump posed the question, “Were you better off four years ago or are you better off today?”
Trump’s Attacks on DeSantis and Haley
Trump criticized DeSantis, who has staked his campaign on a strong performance in Iowa, for his previous opposition to ethanol subsidies, a major concern for corn farmers in the state. Trump also dismissed Haley’s recent rise in polls, highlighting his significant lead over the former governor and the rest of the GOP field. He also criticized New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu for endorsing Haley this week, arguing that such support would not make a difference in the Granite State.
Trump’s Lead in the Primary Field
According to the latest update to the CNN Poll of Polls, Trump leads the primary field by approximately 40 percentage points in nationwide polling. In the most recent average, Trump holds 61% support, compared to 17% for DeSantis and 11% for Haley.
Trump’s Campaign Efforts in Iowa
The Trump campaign is demonstrating increased urgency to mobilize voters for the January 15 Iowa caucuses. They have been showing videos at events to educate supporters on how to caucus for the former president. However, many of his rivals have far outpaced him in terms of the number of events held in the state. Several of Trump’s allies, including Florida Representative Matt Gaetz and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, are also scheduled to act as surrogates for him at events in Iowa over the next few days.
DeSantis’ Criticisms of Trump
At a CNN town hall Tuesday night, DeSantis seized every opportunity to criticize Trump as he tries to narrow the wide polling gap between them. The Florida governor contrasted his record as governor with Trump’s White House tenure and criticized the former president’s economic policies, his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, and his stance on abortion, among other issues.
Potential Challenges for Trump in New Hampshire
While Trump’s team is increasingly confident about his standing in Iowa, they see potential obstacles in New Hampshire as Haley’s popularity has grown in the state. On his Truth Social platform earlier Wednesday, Trump lambasted Sununu over his endorsement, arguing that Haley had “no chance of winning.”