With the Iowa Caucus less than a month away, both Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis traveled to Iowa on Saturday. Trump drew large, high-energy crowds, while DeSantis and Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds’ event had a smaller crowd size and less energetic feel. Saturday’s crowd comparison further indicates that polling showing Trump beating DeSantis by wide margins in the Hawkeye State is accurate. Saturday’s crowd also indicates that polling showing Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds as one of the least popular governors in America is right. Following Saturday’s events, Never Back Down PAC, a PAC supporting DeSantis, had a significant shake-up, letting high-level staffers go. One can’t help but conclude that DeSanits being bested by Trump in Iowa on Saturday played a role in Never Back Downs’ Saturday night shake-up.
As Trump Force One touched down in Iowa on Saturday, Team Trump released a video showing countless examples of Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds praising President Trump and his America First policies. Polling shows Reynolds has become one of the least popular governors in America following her endorsement of Ron DeSantis for president.
? MUST SEE — New Ad from Team Trump: “Thankful” pic.twitter.com/Pu4DByOLpt
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) December 2, 2023
Trump’s first event in Iowa took place at Whiskey River bar in Ankeny. At the event, the Trump campaign handed out “Back to back Iowa Champs” koozies. Many pointed out that messaging like this is excellent for attracting young voters, hence why current polling across the board shows Trump beating Biden in the general and DeSantis in the primary with voters under 35 years old.
PHOTOS: President Trump speaks to supporters at Whiskey River restaurant in Ankeny, IA
MAGA! ?? pic.twitter.com/oJOZ9pxztV
— Team Trump (Text TRUMP to 88022) (@TeamTrump) December 2, 2023
Trump then made his way to Cedar Rapids for a high-energy rally. Video from Trump’s Saturday evening event in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, shows a packed arena filled with an enthusiastic crowd. Trump’s Saturday evening speech focused on Biden’s failed policies and Biden’s DOJ’s weaponization against Trump and his supporters. Powerful video from the speech shows Iowans breaking down in tears as Trump compared Biden’s failed policies to his own America First policies that he pledged would ‘Make America Great Again.’
.@realDonaldTrump delivers his concluding remarks in Cedar Rapids, Iowa this evening—with only 44 days until the IOWA Caucuses… pic.twitter.com/nCyB0kknwP
— Dan Scavino Jr.??? (@DanScavino) December 3, 2023
In comparison, photos and videos from the Reynolds-DeSantis event in Jasper County, Iowa, show a much smaller, less energetic crowd than Trump’s Iowa crowds.
President Trump’s Cedar Rapids, Iowa crowd was much bigger than Ron DeSantis and Kim Reynolds’ Iowa crowd. DeSantis should drop out. He has no chance and Florida has become a disaster. pic.twitter.com/zyQA3EIXi1
— Charles R Downs (@TheCharlesDowns) December 3, 2023
DeSantis looked robotic as he attacked President Trump with reworded leftist talking points, such as questioning Trump’s governing methods. DeSantis has failed to gain any traction in Iowa as the Trump campaign exposed DeSantis’ disloyalty and anti-farming globalist policies.
“I’m not a fan of farm subsidies,” he said. “I want to get away from doing that.”
He also said that Pres. Trump’s tough-on-China tariffs are “not the end state that you want.”
That’s not being tough on China. https://t.co/Yn32X7sDiv
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) May 30, 2023
Instead of tackling these issues head-on, DeSantis decided to pay Bob Vander Plaats for an endorsement and run a campaign attacking Trump instead of running a campaign on policy. The results have been disastrous as most polling shows Trump leading DeSantis by 50 plus points in Iowa.
Just as I exclusively reported and even made a video about, @bobvanderplaats is not only a 3 time failed Iowa Gubernatorial candidate, but he also has a God complex and accepted a $50,000 bribe from the @NvrBackDown24 PAC to promote DeSantis in Iowa. Bob is a notorious Trump… https://t.co/2HZ2tphf1w pic.twitter.com/Zqvmv5oHCV
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) August 7, 2023
Following Saturday’s dueling events, Never Back Down PAC, a PAC that supports DeSantis and has invested significant time in resources in Iowa, let its Communications Director Erin Perrine go. One can’t help but believe Trump’s beatdown of DeSantis in Iowa on Saturday played a role in Perrine’s departure.
JUST IN: As I predicted, @NvrBackDown24 communications Director @ErinMPerrine has also been let go from the failed @RonDeSantis PAC. ?
She has officially changed her bio on X as well and removed Never Back Down from her profile. ???
PSA to everyone who worked for and… https://t.co/jPFFfrFJHx pic.twitter.com/XOjO4sfMun
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) December 3, 2023
Trump is expected to continue an aggressive Iowa strategy as he will make several more trips to the Hawkeye State before the January 15th Iowa Caucus date.
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