Des Moines, Iowa – With six days left until the start of the Iowa caucuses on the Republican presidential nomination calendar, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is no longer predicting victory and has vowed to “do well here.”
At a Fox News town hall in Iowa's capital and largest city on Tuesday, DeSantis emphasized that the race for the Republican nomination is “a long process” and vowed to “play the long game.”
DeSantis, who was convincingly re-elected to a second term as Florida governor 14 months ago, was once the clear alternative to former President Trump in the Republican White House race. He is running for president for the third consecutive year and is still in second place behind former President Donald Trump, who remains the strongest candidate.
Click here for the latest developments from the Ron DeSantis Fox News Town Hall.
Republican presidential candidate Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (right) with hosts Martha McCollum and Bret Baier at FOX News Town Hall in Des Moines, Iowa, on January 9, 2023. (Fox News – Paul Steinhauser)
But after a series of campaign setbacks over the summer and fall, Mr. DeSantis saw his support in the polls decline.
His rival, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who served as U.N. ambassador under Trump, has overtaken DeSantis in Iowa polls and national polls in recent weeks to come in second place.
In New Hampshire, where the first primary will be held just eight days after Iowa, Ms. Haley surpassed Ms. DeSantis and moved into second place, closing the gap with Mr. Trump.
Last month, Mr. DeSantis predicted victory in multiple interviews, despite trailing Mr. Trump by double digits in Iowa polls.
“We're going to win Iowa. We're organized,” the governor declared in a Fox News Digital interview in Bettendorf, Iowa, a week before Christmas.
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But on Tuesday, the town hall hosts Bret Baier, chief political anchor for Fox News' “Special Report,” and Martha McCallum, editor-in-chief and anchor of “The Story,” told the town hall that many people will win or lose. When asked about his thoughts on finishing at state – give him a break. DeSantis twice responded, “It’s going to work.”
“Honestly, I like to lower my expectations,” he added. “I've been an underdog all my life and everything I've ever done.”
And he said, “The media seems to be trying to attack me a little bit on that…Let them say that. It's within our power to prove them wrong and I We will do that.''
Asked if his campaign would expand into New Hampshire regardless of the outcome in Iowa, DeSantis reiterated, “Of course.”
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And DeSantis has touted his get-out-the-vote effort in Iowa, which relies heavily on his affiliated super PAC, Never Back Down.
“We have a huge number of people. I think we had more commitment than we've ever had in the Iowa caucuses. We organized every county. The people involved in this process , they say it's the best they've ever had,” he said.
Haley will join Fox News on Monday for a similar town hall, and Trump will take questions from Baier and McCollum on Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET.
Get the latest on the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more with Fox News Digital's Election Hub.
