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Ron DeSantis may not have an extensive fan base, but he certainly can count on Kim Reynolds, the Governor of Iowa, as his biggest “super fan” ever. Reynolds’ enthusiasm for DeSantis is so over the top that some are joking that she might perform cartwheels to score a few extra votes for him. But let’s face it, Iowa plays a significant role in DeSantis’ strategy, and he’s banking on Reynolds, his “hometown hero,” to help him clinch a victory. It’s a stretch, most would say, but DeSantis views Reynolds as his “trump card” (pun intended). As a result, the pair are traveling together, like a modern-day Abbott and Costello duo, all over the state, desperately trying to drum up votes.
Unfortunately for DeSantis, it seems the endorsement from Reynolds hasn’t done much to boost his campaign. According to a recent poll, DeSantis only eked out a measly one percent gain, an embarrassingly marginal increase that falls hopelessly short in the face of Trump’s substantial lead, which is nearly 30 percent.
Support for DeSantis in the poll was only slightly higher from last month — a 1-percentage-point increase — despite his endorsement by Reynolds. Trump’s campaign said in an email that the recent poll results show DeSantis is “dead in the water, and even Kim Reynolds’ endorsement hasn’t made a difference.”
However, Kim is a loyal fan girl. She’s now shifting her strategy in a very determined, albeit desperate, attempt to carry Ron DeSantis in her state. But Rom’s lagging so far behind in the race that the finish line might as well be invisible to him. Making things worse for Team DeSantis are reports that he’s on the financial ropes. Despite these hurdles, Kim’s pushing forward to help him establish a new headquarters in Iowa.
Hours before former President Donald Trump held a rally in Fort Dodge, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his high-power endorser Gov. Kim Reynolds opened a new campaign office for DeSantis in the Des Moines metro.
“If you like what we’ve done here in Iowa, then you are going to love what Ron DeSantis will do for this country,” Reynolds promised the crowd.
Dozens of bundled-up Iowans — including some lawmakers, lobbyists and activists — packed into DeSantis’ Urbandale campaign office on for the early morning event, sipping coffee and snacking on donuts while the two governors spoke.
The Urbandale office is the second Iowa headquarters for the DeSantis campaign, joining an office in Des Moines. The campaign has surged its resources to the state in the final weeks before the Jan. 15 Iowa Caucus.
With Reynolds’ endorsement and a busy schedule of campaign stops across the state, DeSantis pledged to keep “working hard” to win supporters in Iowa. The most recent Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa Poll showed DeSantis tied for second with former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley, with 16% of likely Republican caucusgoers naming him as their first choice.
Trump, who also campaigned in Iowa on Saturday, holds a commanding lead with 43% support.
Is DeSantis correct in his assessment that Iowa’s voters remain “undecided”? Current polls suggest that most people have made up their minds. However, in the unpredictable and frequently unfair landscape of today’s elections, anything is possible, and polling may not always capture the full picture, so time will tell. And between now and caucus day, you can bet that Governor Reynolds will be practicing her cartwheels.
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