Iowa will look like Ice Station Zebra as eager Republican voters head to the caucuses on Monday night.
The expected high temperature in Des Moines on Monday is -1 degree Fahrenheit, with temperatures dropping below 15 degrees in the evening.
Add to that the cold wind, and temperatures of -30 degrees can be life-threatening.
Despite the extreme elements that have forced leading Republican candidates to cancel events or hold them virtually, candidates, especially former President Donald Trump's rivals, are trying to appeal to voters in hopes of dealing a blow to the front. I am pleading with you to attend and hold a caucus meeting. runner.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis publicly acknowledged Thursday that he hopes the freeze will be a boost for him as his campaign works on infrastructure in Iowa.
“I think organizing is even more important in this weather, because going out in minus 20 degrees is an easy reason not to want to go out unless you're really into voting,” DeSantis said. Ta. Sean Hannity of Fox News. “So we have it in place.”
Florida's governor predicted at an event Friday morning that caucus turnout could be “much lower” than in previous years because of the weather.
Mr. DeSantis has staked his 2024 campaign hopes on how well he does in Iowa, visiting all 99 counties and investing heavily in door-knocking. Governors continue to hold multiple events a day in hopes of finishing as close to Trump as possible.
Meanwhile, the 77-year-old former president is hoping to win by a historic margin on Monday night, with his campaign planning a “10 to Trump” caucus commitment strategy targeting less inclined participants. They may prefer to stay home and stay warm during the campaign. The moment of truth arrives.
As if the cold weather wasn't complicating the final days before the caucuses enough, Iowa was also hit by a major snowstorm on Friday, leading to President Trump's presidential campaign headlined by Arizona Republican Senate candidate Kari Lake. The event was forced to be cancelled.
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley canceled all in-person events Friday but still planned to hold virtual events with voters, while the pro-DeSantis super PAC Never Back Down announced that Sunshine State Gov. I canceled two events I was scheduled to attend. “Dangerous weather conditions”
“Even in the face of inclement weather, we can ensure that Nicky's vision for a strong and proud America is delivered to Iowans,” said Pat Garrett, Haley's Iowa spokesperson. “With only three days left until the caucuses, we will continue to tell voters why they should choose Nikki.”
Along a snowy garden in Waukee, Iowa. Brian Ulgrave/Shutterstock
Still hoping for a good result, Haley asked voters in Ankeny, Iowa, on Monday night to “tell 10 people” about the caucuses and “bring your people” to their local caucus sites. There is.
DeSantis and Haley are currently vying for second place in the polls, vying to replace Trump as the number one candidate. According to RealClearPolitics, former presidents have an average approval rating of 53%, compared to Haley's 17.8% and DeSantis' 15.5%.
