Ron DeSantis shrugged off attacks from Donald Trump, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on Wednesday, saying it just means they view him as a “threat.”
“I think it just goes to show that I’m the guy that’s being attacked by the left, the Democrats, Biden, Harris, the media, Trump, so I have to be someone that they see as a threat,” he told NewsNation His family stormed through Iowa.
The Florida governor is fully committed to the Hawkeye State, vowing to visit all of its 99 counties ahead of the January election in hopes that a win there could give his presidential campaign a huge boost.
So far, however, he has failed to find favor in the polls. In fact, he dropped nine points in a poll of Iowa Republicans conducted by Republican polling firm JL Partners for .
Ron DeSantis, his wife Casey and their children Madison, Mamie and Mason are on day one of a two day bus tour of Iowa
And the RealClearPolitics poll average for Iowa voters leads Trump by 27 points.
DeSantis says support will come.
“We’re going to win the majority of delegates.” “I think we’re way ahead of our expectations in terms of what we were able to accomplish in Iowa,” DeSantis told reporters Thursday with him on his campaign bus traveling east -Iowa travelled.
He, Casey and their children Madison, Mamie and Mason are on day one of a two-day bus tour of the state that ends Saturday with a visit to the Iowa State Fair — a must-stop for any presidential candidate.
Trump will also be in state Saturday and will hold his own event, where DeSantis and other candidates for the Republican presidential nomination will speak in the soapbox mess and participate in a fireside chat with Republican Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds.
It was unclear if Trump would attend the annual event, which runs August 10-20.
The State Fair is a key gathering place for political candidates as they campaign for voters ahead of the January elections.
The former president plans to bring with him a group of Florida lawmakers who have backed his presidential bid over DeSantis. DeSantis has also been attacked by Vice President Harris, who has repeatedly criticized Florida’s new education policy, which allows students to be taught that slavery teaches black people “skills” that could be “used for their personal gain.”
In an interview with Newsmax on Wednesday, Trump called DeSantis a “failed candidate.”
“He has no personality and no good,” Trump noted.
“He dropped like a stone.” “I don’t even think he’ll stay No. 2 for long,” he added.
“I have to be someone that they see as a threat,” Ron DeSantis told NewsNation of the attacks on him by Donald Trump, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris
Ron DeSantis campaigned Thursday in Iowa City, Iowa
DeSantis argued, “If they attack you, that means you’re over the mark.” We like to use that and we’ll hold our own.
“Because at the end of the day, I’m running to actually win the presidency and do all these great things.” I have no other motivation. I don’t want to sign a cable news contract. I’m not trying to sell anything. “I don’t want a cabinet post,” he told NewsNation.
He also said Trump should not skip the traditional Iowa events and meeting with Reynolds.
“I will be there with Governor Kim Reynolds.” Donald Trump attacked Governor Kim Reynolds. “She’s done a great job here,” he said.
“I don’t think it’s good for the party to attack people like Kim Reynolds, so we’re going to have a fair conversation with her.” “Trump isn’t having this conversation with Kim Reynolds, even though he has the chance.”
The latest /JL Partners poll shows that 43% of likely Republican caucus attendees in Iowa will support Donald Trump, compared to just 17% who support Ron DeSantis
Reynolds has not endorsed the presidential election but has repeatedly praised DeSantis — a move that has infuriated Trump.
On Wednesday, she commended the Florida governor for visiting all counties in the state — a move she described as “full Grassley.” Longtime Republican Senator from Iowa Chuck Grassley is known for visiting all of his state’s 99 counties each year.
“He shows up in rural Iowa. He speaks to the voters. He listens to the voters. “He’s talking about his vision and that’s a really good thing,” Reynolds told Fox News of DeSantis.
DeSantis visited about 30 of the 99 counties five months before the election meetings.