INDIANOLA, Iowa — So much for the cold weather preventing Iowans from gathering.
Cold weather Monday night didn't stop 160 Republicans from packing into Emerson Elementary School in this pig-and-corn rural town just 25 miles south of downtown Des Moines.
“I don't think people understand Iowans,” said Chris Nelson, a 39-year-old marketing executive who believes in closing the border and supports former President Donald Trump.
“For us, today is just another day in January.”
James Spiker, 75, a disabled Vietnam veteran, limped to the scene with an oxygen tank and a walker, urging voters to get up from their hospital beds if that's what it takes for President Trump to caucus. I took to heart Sunday's words.
“There's nothing stopping me from coming here to vote for Trump,” Spiker said. “He may not be a perfect person, but he knew what he was doing.”
In addition to Nelson and Spiker, other caucus participants who spoke to the Post all said their biggest concern was stopping the surge of migrants crossing the southern border, followed by the economy. .
Before each attendee wrote the name of their chosen candidate on an orange piece of paper, they were given one last chance to pitch the candidate next to them in hopes of winning over a last-minute convert.
Five people spoke for Trump at Emerson Elementary, led by 60-year-old Joani Estes, who wore the official white baseball cap designating the Trump campaign's “caucus captain.”
“I'm here to represent the greatest president in our lifetime and the only candidate who can defeat Joe Biden,” Estes read from a three-minute script provided by the Trump campaign. It begins.
At the end, Ms. Estes added her own flourish, drawing applause. “Who do I want to lead the country?…I want a bad guy.”
Three people stood up in support of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, including Josh Shimmerman, a 35-year-old construction contractor who has three children, ages 6, 4 and 18 months; , who praised DeSantis for “standing up to Disney…standing up to Disney.” They were trying to invade the hearts of our children. ”
Shimmerman also said he wants a younger president after the 2024 election.
“All of us here are tired of watching Biden get dragged off the podium and stumble down the stairs,” he said. “We all know that when you're in your 80s, things go downhill and you just can't function anymore.
“It takes a really mature, great leader to say, 'It's no longer my time to be in the spotlight.' I'm going to support the next generation of leaders,” Shimmerman continued. “It takes a self-centered person to say, 'This is mine, and only I can do it.'”
Two men have sued Vivek Ramaswamy for shutting down federal agencies, including the FBI.
No one spoke for former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.
When it finally came time to vote, Trump won with 85 votes (53%, if you haven't counted), just like the rest of the state.
DeSantis came in second with 43 votes, followed by Ramaswamy (16) and Haley (15).
Texas businessman, pastor, and future trivia question answerer Ryan Binkley received the single vote.
While Indianola Republicans were out in the cold, 88-year-old Yvonne Budd was happy with the outcome.
“I think Mr. Trump is the only one tough enough, smart enough and business acumen to get us out of this mess,” she said.
At least on Monday night, Yvonne had plenty of company.
