DES MOINES, Iowa — The first contest was no contest.
Former President Donald Trump is projected to win the Iowa caucuses in a blowout Monday night – confirming his position as the clear front-runner for the 2024 Republican nomination.
Trump’s victory doubles as a serious blow to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who invested heavily in a ground game operation that failed to overcome the former president’s popularity among Iowa voters.
Trump’s campaign had planned for a landslide victory in the nation’s first caucus, with the 77-year-old team launching a “10 for Trump” strategy relying on caucus captains to recruit new or non-regular caucus participants to throw their support behind the former president.
That support was evident at an event Sunday afternoon in Indianola, where hundreds of Trump supporters showed up to watch his remarks — and told The Post they all joined the former president.
Donald Trump prepares to hold a “phone call” at the Fort Des Moines Hotel on January 13, 2024 in Des Moines, Iowa. Getty Images
DeSantis and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy have been campaigning late into Monday, holding several face-to-face events each day across the state. Former South Carolina Governor Haley canceled her event over the weekend to account for winter storms and freezing conditions that made driving dangerous.
On the coldest caucus night on record, Iowa Republicans braved snow, icy roads and wind chills that made it feel like negative-30 degrees Fahrenheit.
Despite the near-dangerous situation, White House hopefuls have urged their supporters to turn out to vote in person only.
Ron DeSantis attends a campaign event ahead of the Iowa caucus vote in Ankeny, Iowa, US, January 14, 2024. REUTERS Nikki Haley moves through security to a waiting vehicle after a campaign event at the Drake Diner, in Des Moines, Iowa, Monday, January 15 . 2024 AP Vivek Ramaswamy steadies himself as he recovers from a slip in the snow to an event ahead of the Iowa caucus vote in Hubbard, Iowa, US January 12, 2024. REUTERS
Trump and his rivals have not had much time to digest Monday’s results, as the Republican primary calendar shifts to New Hampshire and the state’s first primary on Jan. 23.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
