Kale Iadcham, 25, is undecided. "I think a lot of people support the governor in this state and her support for Ron [DeSantis] is absolutely gonna boost him."
Landing Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ endorsement was the first bit of good news for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis seemingly in forever.
Suddenly, the narrative surrounding his campaign wasn’t about his lagging fundraising or weak polling — or his rival Nikki Haley’s rise.
Instead, as DeSantis joined Reynolds in front of crowds of supporters in the first-in-the-nation caucus state, he looked like a candidate still very much in this race. He was, Reynolds said, someone who “gets things done.” She called the Florida governor “one of the most effective leaders that I have ever seen.”
The lasting impact of the endorsement is doubtful, of course. Endorsements can matter in presidential races. Just look at what Rep. James Clyburn’s backing did for now-President Joe Biden ahead of the South Carolina primary he rode to the nomination in 2020.
But the problem for DeSantis is that the frontrunner in the GOP primary isn’t some Republican equivalent of a Pete Buttigieg or, even, Sen. Bernie Sanders.
It’s Donald Trump.
And as much as Iowa Republicans may like Reynolds, they like the former president a lot, too. A Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa Poll last week showed Trump running ahead of DeSantis and Haley, the former South Carolina governor, by 27 percentage points.
Where a Reynolds endorsement could truly matter for DeSantis is in the race for second place. In the Iowa poll, he was tied with Haley at 16 percent. DeSantis is banking it all on Iowa, having shifted staff and resources there. He needs to emerge as the leading alternative to Trump. The lift Reynolds can provide DeSantis may just be by making it close.
Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis is introduced by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds at a campaign stop at Machine Shed in Davenport, Iowa, on Nov. 7, 2023, after Reynolds endorsed him the night before. Husband and wife, Ken and Sherrie Wilson, wait in line for a presidential campaign rally for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis at River Center in Des Moines, Iowa, on Nov, 6, 2023. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds (R) endorsed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for president at the rally. Russell Conner stands outside the Machine Shed restaurant after a campaign rally for Florida Governor and Republican presidential candidate hopeful, Ron DeSantis in Davenport, Iowa, on Nov. 7, 2023. Crowds line up to hear Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and Republican presidential candidate, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, at a campaign event at Machine Shed in Davenport, Iowa, on Nov. 7, 2023. Rowdy Templer sits outside the Machine Shed restaurant prior to a campaign rally for Florida Governor and Republican presidential candidate hopeful, Ron DeSantis in Davenport, Iowa, on Nov. 7, 2023. Sharon Omvig (right) and Phyllis Suttek leave a campaign rally for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis at River Center in Des Moines, Iowa, on Nov. 6, 2023. Matt Wells stands outside the Machine Shed restaurant prior to a campaign rally for Florida Governor and Republican presidential candidate hopeful, Ron DeSantis in Davenport, Iowa, on Nov. 7, 2023. Republican presidential candidate Florida Governor Ron DeSantis talks to people at a campaign stop at Machine Shed in Davenport, Iowa, on Nov. 7, 2023. Jeanne Sodawasser (left) sits with her daughter, Atalyssa, at the Machine Shed restaurant after a campaign rally for Florida Governor and Republican presidential candidate hopeful, Ron DeSantis in Davenport, Iowa, on Nov. 7, 2023. Ann Hanson stands outside the Machine Shed restaurant prior to a campaign rally for Florida Governor and Republican presidential candidate hopeful, Ron DeSantis in Davenport, Iowa, on Nov. 7, 2023. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (right) stands on stage with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis after endorsing him for president at a rally at the River Center in Des Moines, Iowa, on Nov. 6, 2023.
David Siders contributed to this report.
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