DES MOINES, IA — With the Iowa caucuses just days away, voters in the state are finalizing their decisions and evaluating what resonates most with them from the presidential candidates. Despite the expected record-cold freeze on caucus day, candidates and their surrogates are making a final push to convince voters to show up on Monday. Here’s a look at the views of Iowa voters as they make their choices.
One candidate who has a loyal voter base is former President Donald Trump. Even some Republican voters who desire new leadership within the party feel a sense of protectiveness towards Trump. These voters do not believe in the legitimacy of his legal problems, echoing his claims that they are politically motivated. They also often highlight Trump’s proven abilities as the only former president in the race.
Lynne Mona, a 62-year-old semiretired special education associate from Des Moines, stated, I think that people have figured it out by now. Maybe a year or two ago they didn’t have it figured out, now they’ve got it figured out, and they think he’s our best candidate to get us back to where we were, and then to restore our America to what it should be. He’s already shown us he can do it. Now we want to restore it and make it this great place again.
Ron DeSantis, the Florida Governor, has emphasized his record in Florida, particularly in handling the COVID-19 pandemic, to appeal to Iowa voters. His strict stance on various social issues also resonates with his supporters. Some Iowa voters who plan to back DeSantis compare his accomplishments in Florida to those of Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds. DeSantis is seen as a conservative candidate who can build on the policies of the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement without the dramatics associated with Trump.
Mark Walter, after hearing DeSantis speak in Clive, expressed his discontent with Trump by saying, The thought of Trump as the nominee makes me sick. He didn’t keep his promises.
Nikki Haley, with her foreign policy experience and composed demeanor, has won over many Iowa voters. Her extensive national experience is viewed as an advantage, and she has successfully appealed to moderate, old-school Republicans. Haley’s claim of being the most electable candidate in the race is seen as a positive by her supporters.
Scott Garbe, who changed his registration to caucus for Amy Klobuchar in 2020 and switched back to support Haley this year, explained, Anybody but Trump. I think she’s electable. She could get some crossover votes from Democrats, and be more moderate.
Vivek Ramaswamy, billing himself as the MAGA 2.0 candidate, refuses to criticize Trump. He pledges to go beyond what the former president achieved while in office. Ramaswamy argues that voting for him is a way to support the MAGA movement and acts as insurance against the Republican establishment sidelining Trump and promoting a Haley-DeSantis ticket.
Josh Toomer, who had the opportunity to meet Ramaswamy in Cedar Rapids, stated, They’re going to bog down Trump as much as they possibly can. But they don’t have any dirt on Vivek.
As Monday’s Iowa caucuses draw closer, voters across the state are contemplating their support for various presidential candidates. From the loyal base behind Trump to those looking for new leadership, the concerns and priorities of Iowa voters will shape the outcome of this critical first contest in the 2024 election cycle.
