- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is confident he will win the January 15 Iowa caucuses
- Deflected when asked if he plans to retire if his performance isn’t good at Iowa
- Donald Trump is still in first place in the first primary state
Ron DeSantis is confident he will win the Iowa caucuses next month after completing the “full Grassley” by visiting all 99 counties in the Hawkeye State.
The Florida governor deflected when asked Sunday morning what he plans to do if he doesn’t perform well in Iowa on Jan. 15 — but DeSantis appears to have no contingency plan should that be the case.
“Well, we’re going to win the caucus. We’re going to win Iowa,” he told NBC Meet the Press host Kristen Welker when she asked if he would drop out if he doesn’t do well in the nation’s first primary.
Iowa will lead all other states in hosting the first primary of 2024, followed by the New Hampshire primary eight days later on January 23.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is confident he will win the Jan. 15 Iowa caucuses — and was rebuffed when asked if he plans to resign if his performance isn’t good in the Hawkeye State
DeSantis has spent much of his time, focus and money in Iowa. He secured several major nominations in the state from Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and evangelical leader Bob Vander Plaats.
An analysis of candidate ad purchases in 2024 shows DeSantis to be the largest spender.
He spent nearly half of his total $46 million on television, digital and radio ads to convince Iowa Republicans to stand up for him.
The 2024 hopeful also made good on his promise Saturday to campaign in all 99 counties in Iowa, a feat known as the “full Grassley.”
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) congratulated DeSantis ahead of his rally in Jasper, Iowa this weekend: “I commend any candidate who holds rallies in all 99 counties and completes what is now called the ‘Full Grassley.’ I have found this to be the best way to show that every Iowan is important to hear from and that no one is forgotten.”
Speaking on NBC News the day after his visit to the 99-county finals, DeSantis said he believes he will win in Iowa.
“I think it will help us get the nomination, but I think we have a lot of work to do besides that,” he added. “I don’t think you take anything for granted.”
On Saturday, DeSantis completed his vow to visit all 99 counties in Iowa before the caucuses. Pictured: DeSantis speaks with supporters of his presidential bid in Jasper County, Iowa, on Saturday
Donald Trump was also in Iowa on Saturday, visiting Ankeny for a caucus event
DeSantis typically ranks second in Iowa polls, sometimes tied with former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, ahead of frontrunner ex-President Donald Trump, who consistently dominates in statewide and national surveys.
But DeSantis says that if Trump wins 2024, he would simply turn his primary and potential presidency into a “referendum on him and many of the issues he faces.”
“I will be able to defend a positive view in the future,” he contrasted. “We have a much better chance if we do it with me as the candidate.”
DeSantis said that if he were the Republican nominee, his bid in the general election would be “a referendum on Biden’s failures, on all the issues in the country that affect people.”
