DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds sets a high bar for former President Donald Trump in Monday night's caucuses as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis cheers for shocking results did.
“I think it will be bad if President Trump doesn't turn 50 or older.” [%] So we can see that he's not living up to expectations.” Reynolds told Fox News. Monday morning.
Trump, 77, is expected to crush the race in Iowa, with a Des Moines Register poll on the eve of the caucus showing him leading former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley by 28 percentage points. It is widely expected.
In modern times (since 1972), no non-presidential Republican has won a contested caucus by more than 12.8 percentage points.
“If Ron can come close to it and President Trump is under 50.[%], I think he's in the game,” Reynolds added. “I think he's in the best position to meet expectations.”
Mr. Reynolds, 64, endorsed Mr. DeSantis in November, breaking with the Iowa governor's longstanding tradition of maintaining careful neutrality in his caucuses.
In 2016, the current governor's predecessor, Terry Branstad, issued a scathing statement of disapproval of the eventual caucus winner, Sen. Ted Cruz.
Reynolds' choice of DeSantis infuriated Trump, who has repeatedly attacked her in the two months since her announcement.
“She went from being the most popular governor in America to the least popular governor in America in two weeks,” President Trump told supporters at a rally in Indianola on Sunday. “But I thought that was very disingenuous.”
Despite polls showing a strong lead behind DeSantis and Haley, the former president warned his supporters against complacency, saying, “Consider that we're about a point behind. You're going to vote,” he said.
DeSantis, who has been increasingly critical of Trump in the final days before the caucuses, hit back at the former president on Sunday.
“You may be the most worthless Republican in America, but kiss the ring and he'll call you great,” the Florida native gushed during an Ankeny Sunday event. “You can be the strongest, most dynamic, successful Republican…but if you don't kiss that ring, he's going to try to trash you.”
Mr. DeSantis has invested heavily in keeping Iowa strong, with his campaign and its allies pouring millions of dollars into the race.
However, a series of recent polls indicate that Haley is at risk of overtaking him for second place.
President Trump, who has aggressively attacked both Haley and DeSantis in recent weeks, has also directed his rhetorical fire at biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, but his “Save Trump,” which appeared over the weekend, He seems irritated by a T-shirt with the phrase 'Vote for Vivek' written on it.
“Vivek started his campaign as a great supporter, 'the best president of a generation,' etc. Unfortunately, what he is doing now is creating his own campaign in the form of deceptive campaign tricks. It's all about disguising support. It's very cunning, but a vote for Vivek is a vote for the 'other side' – don't let this fool you,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Saturday.
“Don't waste your vote! Vivek is not MAGA. Biden's indictment of political opponents will never be tolerated in this country, it's already starting to fall! MAGA!!!”
Mr. Ramaswamy responded in a subdued tone.
“This is an unfortunate move by his campaign advisers.” [sic], I don't think friendly fire is useful. “Donald Trump was the greatest president of the 21st century and I have no intention of criticizing him for this belated attack,” the 38-year-old wrote on X.
After the Iowa caucuses, the Republican nomination race will head to New Hampshire for the Granite State primary on January 23rd.
