DES MOINES, Iowa — The first contest wasn't a contest at all.
Former President Donald Trump was projected to win a close race in the Iowa caucuses on Monday night, confirming his status as the clear front-runner for the 2024 Republican nomination.
With hundreds of caucuses still underway across the Hawkeye State, the media dubbed Trump the winner even though fewer than 10 precincts reported their votes to the Iowa Republican Party.
With less than 0.5% of expected votes, Trump had a 70% approval rating, followed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (15%), former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley (8%), and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Haley. This was followed by Mr. Ramaswamy (6%).
If early trends hold, the 77-year-old is on track to record the largest margin of victory in the modern history of the Iowa caucuses, dating back to 1972, and become the first Republican candidate to receive more than 50% support. is. In a contested caucus.
The shocking result comes especially after President Trump has been facing four criminal charges since last March, and heavily invested in ground operations that failed to overcome the former president's popularity among Iowa voters. It was a particular blow to Mr. DeSantis, who went.
Despite the result, DeSantis told reporters early Monday that he plans to remain in the race, even if he comes in third behind Trump and Haley.
The Florida governor, 45, was scheduled to fly to South Carolina for an event on Tuesday morning, then head north to New Hampshire for an evening event.
Haley, 51, tried to avoid mentioning specific expectations for her performance, hinting that she would be satisfied with a top-three finish before moving on to New Hampshire. New Hampshire is more moderate than Iowa, and New Hampshire is less dominated by social conservatives and evangelicals. — and her home state of South Carolina.
“Previous predictions are that Donald Trump will receive more than 50% of the vote and that Ron DeSantis will win,” said Haley's top surrogate, former Texas congressman Will Hurd. he told the Post after last week's debate. It took place between Haley and DeSantis at Drake University in Des Moines.
“Neither of those things can happen.”
The Trump campaign plans to score a big victory in the nation's first caucuses, and the Trump campaign is relying on caucus leaders to recruit new or irregular participants to solidify support for the former president. He was deploying a strategy of “Trump 10.” .
The strategy worked so well that at one caucus a Post reporter attended in West Des Moines, all the hats and stickers promoting the former president could be seen.
In the coldest caucus night on record, Iowa Republicans braved snow, icy roads and temperatures as low as -30 degrees Fahrenheit.
Despite the dangerous situation, top White House officials urged their supporters to show up for the in-person-only vote.
Trump and his rivals won't have much time to digest Monday's results as the Republican primary calendar shifts to New Hampshire and the nation's first primary on January 23. Opinion polls show Haley closing the gap with his supporters by double digits. support.
