The upcoming Iowa caucuses have generated significant anticipation as presidential hopefuls Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis make their final pitches to voters. While Haley's team looks to maintain lower expectations in the state, DeSantis has invested substantial resources, which has raised the bar of anticipation surrounding his performance in Iowa.
Haley's campaign is focused on achieving a strong showing in Iowa to set the stage for success in New Hampshire. However, they have not provided a specific definition of what a 'strong showing' would entail. During her final pitch, Haley emphasized key campaign themes, including the need for school choice, border security, and support for Ukraine to prevent escalation of conflicts.
Haley also highlighted her electability, pointing out that Republicans have lost the popular vote in seven of the last eight presidential elections. She positioned herself as the candidate who can break this trend, citing theoretical polls that show her as a strong contender against President Biden. Haley suggested that both Trump and DeSantis lack the ability to secure a victory.
With regard to ground operations, Haley's campaign is considered more nimble compared to DeSantis'. Supported by a super PAC backed by the Koch family, her team is aiming to knock on 250,000 doors before the caucus. In contrast, the DeSantis super PAC plans to visit a million doors. Despite this disadvantage, Haley's campaign believes that the increasing momentum generated by Haley's interactions with voters can still garner support in Iowa, especially against DeSantis, who is currently seen as her main competition for second place.
DeSantis has been rallying his supporters and urging them to turn out for the caucuses. Despite slipping to third place in a recent poll, his team remains confident in their ground operations and supporter enthusiasm. The campaign has built a strong infrastructure, having knocked on around 940,000 doors in Iowa over the past few months. Additionally, a super PAC aligned with DeSantis has invested millions of dollars, and the candidate himself has spent significant time and effort in all 99 counties.
As the caucuses approach, both campaigns are strategically driving their supporters to caucus sites. DeSantis' team believes that their supporters' enthusiasm, combined with the unpredictable factor of extremely cold weather, may work in their favor.
The results of the Iowa caucuses carry significant weight for both Haley and DeSantis. While Haley's team hopes for a strong showing to propel her forward, DeSantis has heavily invested in Iowa and views the state as a make-or-break moment for his campaign. The outcome will reveal which candidate emerges as a potential alternative and holds a stronger position in the race for the presidential nomination.
