Last updated on November 14th, 2023 at 09:54 pm
Former President Donald Trump is gearing up for a prominent appearance at the Iowa State Fair this Saturday, accompanied by a caravan of nine Florida Republicans who have thrown their support behind him, even over their own governor, Ron DeSantis.
The impact of this move is underscored by recent polling in Iowa. While limited polling data exists, a recent New York Times/Siena poll highlighted Trump’s lead over DeSantis in the first-in-the-nation caucuses, standing at a narrower 24 percentage points compared to many national surveys.
As confirmed by Trump’s campaign to the Des Moines Register, Republican U.S. Representatives including Gus Bilirakis, Byron Donalds, Matt Gaetz, Carlos Gimenez, Brian Mast, Cory Mills, Anna Paulina Luna, Greg Steube, and Mike Waltz are set to travel alongside Trump to the Iowa State Fair, participating in the event throughout the day. Significantly, each of these Republican representatives has openly endorsed Trump, even against DeSantis, the former member of Congress who will also make an appearance at the fair on Saturday.
While specifics of Trump’s visit at the fairgrounds at 1 p.m. Saturday remain limited, he will attend the event on his terms, eschewing participation in both the Des Moines Register’s Political Soapbox and the “fair-side chat” series hosted by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds.
Full Live Video – Trump Visits Iowa State Fair (Aug. 12)
Here is the full video of Trump’s visit and speech to the Iowa State Fair on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023, courtesy of RSBN and Rumble.
Alternate Source: RSBN-TV
The Iowa State Fair is a bustling period for presidential candidates, drawing attention to the active political environment across the state. A multitude of candidates are expected to flock to Iowa, aiming to connect with its influential voter base.
Governor Kim Reynolds will be hosting a Q&A session with Republican candidates. In her statement, Reynolds expressed, “These one-on-one ‘Fair-Side Chats‘ offer the candidates an incredible opportunity to share their message directly with Iowans. With just 6 months to go until the Iowa Caucus, it’s crunch time!”
In a unique approach, Former President Trump will not be partaking in these chats, instead opting to connect with voters by walking around the fairgrounds and meeting them on his own terms. Karen Kedrowski, the director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center and political science professor at Iowa State University, commented, “I think that the way that he has decided to present himself at the fair where he’s going to be walking around and meeting voters on his own terms is very typical of President Trump.”
Trump’s choice to appear on the same day as Governor Ron DeSantis, former Ambassador Nikki Haley, and Vivek Ramaswamy, all participating in the ‘Fair-Side Chats,’ is notable. This strategic decision aligns with Trump’s rivalry with DeSantis, his closest contender for the nomination, suggesting a calculated move on his part.
DeSantis is grappling to reposition his campaign, which has faced dips in the polls and undergone staff shake-ups over the last two weeks.
In response to news that the endorsed Florida Republicans would join Trump, the DeSantis campaign’s war room succinctly stated, “Rent free.”
Amidst this backdrop, Trump’s upcoming appearance at the Iowa Fair coincides with his commanding 25-point lead over DeSantis, according to the latest Manhattan Institute primary poll. Notably, 42 percent of Iowa Republicans rally behind Trump, while 17 percent support the Florida governor.
DeSantis, on the other hand, has embarked on a journey across 30 Iowa counties with plans to cover all 99 counties in an effort to bridge the gap against Trump’s relentless lead.
Trump's emphatic message to the crowd rings clear: “I will obliterate the deep state. We will say no on 87,000 IRS agents who want to take your money and much worse than that.”
With the Iowa State Fair acting as a political focal point, all eyes are on Trump and DeSantis as they vie for dominance in the state’s political landscape.
Disclaimer: This article may contain the viewpoint and opinion of the author.