Former President Donald Trump rallied Iowans to help him “win big” in the 2024 Republican presidential caucuses.
During a campaign rally in downtown Cedar Rapids, Trump told the crowd of 2,500 supporters to help him win the presidential caucuses in January, which could signal his strength in the November presidential election next year.
“We have to win big,” the presidential hopeful said. “I think we’re in great shape in the primary. But it sets a tone for the general election.”
1,700 people also attended Trump’s event in Waterloo, where he urged supporters to pledge their support for him in the January 15 caucuses. Hundreds more people waited outside, showing his advantage both in the state and nationally.
Trump’s afternoon stops in Waterloo and Cedar Rapids marked his third and fourth in a little more than two weeks as the 2024 Republican nomination approaches.
Polls show that he is the leading pick as the Republican presidential candidate for Iowa voters. According to a survey conducted by Iowa State University, 51 percent of the respondents said that Trump would be their first pick for the presidential primaries. The Iowa caucus is scheduled for Jan. 15, 2024.
“The race right now is clearly President Trump, a small second tier of four candidates — DeSantis, Haley, Ramaswamy, and Scott — and then a lot of candidates without much support at all,” said Iowa State University Professor Dave Peterson. “Trump’s lead is strong, but it also might be something of a ceiling because most Iowans have strong opinions about him.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was second with 14 percent, while former U.N. Ambassador and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley was the first choice of 10 percent of likely voters.
The poll also asked the 434 likely Republican Iowa caucus attendees about candidates they opposed. Of that group, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was the most unpopular, with nearly a third of Iowa voters saying they were against his campaign.
Campaign advisers also expressed confidence that Trump could win the caucuses, which are precinct-level, party-run meetings where party members also register the first votes of the 2024 GOP campaign.
