- Trump has been the dominant leader in the Hawkeye State polls for months
- It was clear that Iowans were most excited about Trump
Former President Donald Trump is expected to win the Iowa caucuses in a landslide victory over Republican rivals Gov. Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy.
The historic result came after Trump dominated the polls in the Hawkeye State for months.
It gives him a huge boost as he tries to win the Republican presidential nomination and return to the White House in what would be the most remarkable political comeback in American history.
Fox News and CNN both called the race just 33 minutes after polls opened, and after only 319 votes had been counted.
In a final Real Clear Politics average of the polls, the ex-president was 33.7 points ahead of the former UN ambassador. Nikki Haley, who fell to second place above Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in most surveys ahead of Monday night’s caucuses.
It was clear that Iowans were the most excited about voting for Trump.
His supporters were willing to spend hours outside in subzero temperatures to see him at a Sunday rally in Indianola after he had to cancel three other rallies in Iowa this weekend due to severe winter weather.
Trump packed venues across the state, often needing overflow space to fit his audience.
Former President Donald Trump does a dance and wears one of his Trump Caucus Captain hats. The Trump campaign handed out the white and gold hats to their caucus captains, with these individuals making a pitch to voters across the state on caucus night
A supporter of former President Donald Trump waits in line for the ex-president’s rally on Sunday in Indianola, Iowa. Some Trump fans spent hours in subzero temperatures to see Trump ahead of the 2024 Iowa caucuses
Supporters of former President Donald Trump wait in line in subzero temperatures on Sunday to see the ex-president headline a rally in Indianola, Iowa, ahead of Monday’s Iowa caucuses
One of the buttons for sale Sunday at former President Donald Trump’s rally in Indianola, Iowa. The ex-president was forced to cancel three other rallies due to two snowstorms and then subzero temperatures that roiled the Hawkeye State
Trump’s campaign was also more organized this time than in 2016.
He lost the 2016 Iowa caucuses to Texas Senator Ted Cruz.
Each caucus location had a designated Trump Caucus Captain – known to the public by their distinctive white hats with gold lettering.
That Caucus Captain gave a speech on Trump’s behalf before voting began on the ground.
Ahead of caucus night, Gary Leffler, Trump’s caucus captain for West Des Moines’ District 118, told DailyMail.com that the ex-president’s operation was the most organized.
“This is by far their best effort yet,” he said, explaining that he had attended caucuses when Trump was voting in 2016 and 2020. ‘They’ve figured it out. They are doing very well.’
Leffler, who attended an event with Donald Trump Jr. at the Machine Shed Restaurant in Urbandale, Iowa, on Thursday, then showed reporters pages and pages of names of voters he had to call to remind them they were at the caucuses on Monday night had to appear.
Former President Donald Trump joked during his rally in Indianola on Sunday that even if voters are sick, they should show up for him. “When you’re sick as a dog, you say, honey – even if you vote and then die, it’s worth it,” he said
Trump’s fear ahead of the caucuses was that his lead in the polls on his behalf would reduce voter turnout somewhat due to the forecast bad weather.
He repeatedly told his audience to vote as if the polls were close by.
“So get out and vote. Don’t listen to the polls. Basically pretend you’re 40 points higher or some crazy number…pretend you’re one point lower. You are one point lower. You have to get out and you have to vote, vote, vote!’ he said at a rally in Clinton, Iowa on January 6.
At his Sunday rally in Indianola, he joked to the crowd that even if they weren’t feeling well, they should go outside and caucus.
“When you’re sick as a dog, you say, honey — even if you vote and then die, it’s worth it,” he said.