Republicans hold first caucus amid frigid temperatures in Iowa that dipped below -20 degrees
Hours before Republicans stage a party-line vote in Iowa to choose their November 2024 presidential candidate, Donald Trump said Monday it will be a “tremendous night” for him as he has been absent from Republican debates.
During a brief chat with reporters as he left for the Fort Des Moines Hotel, Donald Trump said: “We won twice as you know, two elections, and I think tonight we're going to have a tremendous night.”
Republicans are holding their first caucus amid frigid temperatures in Iowa that dropped below -20 degrees, forcing the party's contenders to cancel their campaign events.
The 77-year-old thanked his supporters for attending his rallies. In this sense, he said: “The people are fantastic and I have never seen a spirit like they have in the entire country, except in Iowa.”
On the other hand, Republican presidential candidates expressed fear of low turnout amid the extreme cold.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday that extreme cold may have an impact on voter turnout, however, he also encouraged people to caucus to vote for the Republican Party to fight for them during “the next eight years.”
“If you're willing to go out, in this temperature, and take a few hours of your life to participate in the Iowa caucuses, you know, and you're supporting me… I'll fight for you for the next year.” “Eight years and we're going to change this country. Now is the time to do it,” Ron DeSantis said during a stop in Sergeant Bluff, Iowa.
As Republicans are set to choose their candidate for the November 2024 elections, Trump was leading the race among other candidates in the polls, followed by Nikki Haley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
North Dakota Governor and former 2024 presidential candidate Doug Burgum endorsed Trump on Sunday. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who was defeated by the former president in 2016, also endorsed the business magnate.
According to polls, Trump has 48% support in the conservative and religious state, while DeSantis fell to third place, with 16% support. Haley, however, jumped into second place, cashing in on DeSantis' lackluster campaign: 20%.
