WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke to supporters Monday night after finishing second in the Iowa caucuses to former President Donald Trump, arguing that he got his “ticket fired from Iowa.”
“They threw everything but the kitchen sink at us. They spent almost $15 million to attack us… They even called an election before people had a chance to vote,” the governor began his speech.
“I won’t make any excuses, and I assure you: I won’t let you down.”
DeSantis entered the election with polls predicting him to finish third behind Trump and Nikki Haley. The governor managed to take second place, behind Trump who slumped in first place.
DeSantis’ top supporter and evangelical leader Bob Vander Plaats said, “you shot two tickets” out of Iowa, and DeSantis will have a chance to continue.
Florida Governor and Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis is joined by his wife Casey DeSantis at an Iowa caucus watch party in West Des Moines, Iowa, January 15, 2024. REUTERS
The Sunshine State leader, for a long time, has said he will “win” the Iowa caucus because of his strong organization and ground game. He has visited all 99 districts in the state and is committed to grassroots retail politics in an effort to convince voters.
Over the weekend, DeSantis kept moving, running across the state and holding multiple events each day amid blizzard conditions.
His campaign argued his organization amid inclement weather and a potential lower turnout in the caucuses would give him a boost in results.
Republican presidential candidate and former US President Donald Trump speaks during his caucus night vigil in Des Moines, Iowa, US, on January 15, 2024. AP Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at his caucus night event on January 15. , 2024 in West Des Moines, Iowa. Getty Images
He continued to speak to voters throughout Monday and into the evening, visiting caucus sites.
Hours before Monday night’s caucus, DeSantis said he hopes to do well and is glad people see him as an “underdog.”
The DeSantis campaign argued the media interfered in the election by calling a victory for Trump before the polls closed.
Republican presidential candidate former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks at her caucus night event on January 15, 2024 in West Des Moines, Iowa. Getty Images Former Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump arrives to speak at a caucus night party in Des Moines, Iowa on January 15, 2024. AP
“It is outrageous that the media would participate in election meddling by calling the race before tens of thousands of Iowans have had a chance to vote. The media is in the tank for Trump and this is the most egregious example,” Communications Director Andrew Romeo said in a statement.
DeSantis has vowed to continue campaigning in early states and is expected to fly to South Carolina – Haley’s home state – Tuesday morning, followed by New Hampshire in the afternoon.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
