Republican caucuses live updates: Why Iowa matters

After months of campaigning, the first Republican election battle is just hours away.

Voters in Iowa will head to caucus locations across the state Monday night to register their preference for the 2024 GOP nominee. Conditions are expected to be brutal, with forecasters warning of Iowa’s coldest caucus date on record.

The winner of the state’s caucuses is expected to get a boost heading into New Hampshire’s first primary next week, but the results don’t always portend success for the rest of the campaign season. Still, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis are hoping for a strong performance against former President Donald Trump, the presumptive front-runner.

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DES MOINES – Trump is stepping up his attacks on his rivals on the morning of the kickoff of the Iowa caucuses.

On his Truth Social site, Trump labels Haley, his former UN ambassador, “an unwanted globalist” and calls her “weak at the border.”

Trump is also going after Vivek Ramaswamy, the technology entrepreneur who has acted as a steward for his Make America Great Again movement.

“A vote for Vivek is a wasted vote,” Trump wrote in capital letters. “I like Vivek, but he played it too ‘cute’ with us. Caucus tonight, vote for Donald J. Trump, build the numbers!!!”

Trump spent much of the race praising Ramaswamy for saying nice things about him. But Trump turned on him this week after Ramaswamy posted a photo of himself posing with supporters wearing “Save Trump, vote Vivek” T-shirts.