DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds has set the bar high for former President Donald Trump in Monday night’s caucuses as she expects Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to pull off a surprise.
“I think it would be bad for President Trump if he didn’t get into over 50 years [%] so — so you know he didn’t live up to expectations,” Reynolds told Fox News Monday morning.
Trump, 77, was widely expected to blow away his competition in Iowa after a Des Moines Register night caucus poll showed him leading by 28 percentage points over former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.
In the modern era (since 1972), no non-Republican president has won a contested caucus by more than 12.8 percentage points.
“If Ron can come close to that, and President Trump is under 50[%], I think he’s in the game,” Reynolds added. “I think he’s in the best position to live up to expectations.”
Iowans prepare to brave Arctic temperatures and break the ice in the 2024 GOP contest. AFP via Getty Images
Reynolds, 64, endorsed DeSantis in November, breaking a long tradition in which Iowa governors maintain studied neutrality in caucuses.
The current gubernatorial front-runner, Terry Branstad, issued a scathing rebuttal of Sen. Ted Cruz — the eventual caucus winner — in 2016.
Reynolds’ choice of DeSantis angered Trump, who has repeatedly attacked him in the two months since his announcement.
Donald Trump is furious with politicians he describes as disloyal. Getty Images Kim Reynolds has wholeheartedly endorsed Ron DeSantis. Tannen Maury/UPI/Shutterstock
“He went from the most popular governor in the United States in two weeks to the least popular,” Trump told supporters at a rally in Indianola on Sunday. “But I just think it’s very disloyal.”
Although polls show him big on DeSantis and Haley, the former president has warned his supporters not to get complacent, telling them to “think we’re one point short because that’s how you’re going to vote.”
DeSantis, who has stepped up his criticism of Trump in the final days before the caucuses, fired back at the former president Sunday.
Donald Trump delivered pizzas to first responders in Iowa over the weekend. AP
“You can be the most worthless Republican in America, but if you kiss the ring, he’ll say you’re great,” the Floridian said during an event in Ankeny Sunday. “You can be the strongest, most dynamic, successful Republican … but if you don’t kiss the ring, he’s going to try to trash you.”
DeSantis has invested heavily in Iowa’s strong showing, with his campaign and his allies pouring millions of dollars into the race.
However, a series of recent polls show Haley threatening to overtake him for second place.
Trump, who has aggressively jabbed at both Haley and DeSantis in recent weeks, has turned his rhetorical fire on biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy — apparently punctuated by a t-shirt bearing the phrase “Save Trump, Vote Vivek” that appears on the end week.
“Vivek started his campaign as a great supporter, ‘Best President in generations,’ etc. Unfortunately, now all he does is disguise his support in the form of deceptive campaign gimmicks. Very sneaky, but a vote for Vivek is a vote for ‘the other side’ — don’t be fooled by this,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Saturday.
“Don’t waste your vote! Vivek is not a MAGA. Biden’s allegations against his Political Opponent will not be allowed in this Country, it has already started to fall! MAGA!!!”
Vivek Ramaswamy has maintained a brisk schedule in his home turf of Iowa. Reuters
In response, Ramaswamy uttered a restrained tone.
“It was an unfortunate move by his campaign adviser [sic], I guess friendly fire doesn’t help. Donald Trump is the greatest President of the 21st century, and I will not criticize him in response to this late attack,” the 38-year-old said on X.
After the Iowa caucuses, the GOP nomination race heads to New Hampshire for the Granite State primary on January 23.
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