FROM OUR REPORTER
ALDEN, Iowa – “Stay tuned!” It's no coincidence that Nikki Haley urged her supporters to show their excitement as she headed to her final rally before the caucuses at a cabin in the woods half an hour from Des Moines. appeared and presented herself as the future “first female president of the United States.” The Iowa poll, a key poll released on the eve of tonight's Republican caucuses, saw Haley in second place with 20% of the vote, with 48 % gap to Donald Trump and with 16% behind Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, but also showed that Only 9% of the former UN ambassador's supporters said they were extremely enthusiastic about voting for her. If they had – Found the motivation you needed to discuss and vote in a school gymnasium at 7 p.m. at 40 degrees Celsius?
Haley wasn't hoping to beat Trump at the time, but was facing DeSantis for second place. Trump had long been expected to win the Iowa caucuses, but there were doubts about how big the lead would be over his rivals. At less than 50% he is considered weak, although he has most likely surpassed the record of 13 points set by Bob Dole in 1996 against his rivals. But rhetoric aside, the ex-president knows full well that the more he distances himself from the others, the more he can try to quickly end the primaries and secure the Republican nomination. That's why he wore the new “Iowa Caucus Captain” hat at the last rally in Indianola: a new gadget to sell, but also an incentive for fans not to take the victory for granted.
Haley is seen as an alternative by anti-Trump Republicans and also enjoys the support of some independents and Democrats. At the Alden Chalet, she tried to motivate voters by reiterating that with her, America would come back strong at home and abroad; He dismissed accusations that he was a “neoconservative” and warmonger (and was helping Ukraine “avoid the outbreak of war between Putin and NATO”) and reiterated that Trump “rightly or wrongly brings chaos” and it It is time for a new generation of leaders who look to the future. If this morning's results show Haley well-positioned in Iowa (over 20%), the result will be encouraging. Then she's aiming for the Jan. 23 primary in New Hampshire, which she and Trump are flying to today. Then she hopes for South Carolina, where she was governor.
Even DeSantis presents himself as a leader of the new generation, although he avoids criticizing Trump too much. The Florida governor has fallen behind Haley in several polls in Iowa. A third place would be embarrassing in this state in which he has invested so much. He has visited all 99 counties, his volunteers have knocked on 930,000 doors, he has the support of Gov. Kim Reynolds and evangelical leader Bob Vander Plaats. The latter's support was so desired that the website Politico followed the so-called “Vander Plaats primaries” with bated breath, but in the end, according to polls, only 22% of evangelicals in Iowa had switched to DeSantis' side; 51% preferred Trump. “The former president has a track record, he has done a lot for evangelicals, but I think he represents the biggest obstacle to victory in 2024,” Vander Plaats told Corriere. It is not an election against Trump, but for the new generation” (Vander Plaats added that he will vote for him if Trump wins the nomination).
All three candidates rely on (sometimes dubious) polls that would certify them a victory against Biden. But the signs of nervousness were clear to see yesterday. Kevin, a wheelchair-bound Trump supporter who traveled from Illinois to ask the candidates about their stance on disabilities, was barred from a DeSantis event because he wore a hat from a pro-Trump radio show.