Republican rivals make final push in Iowa ahead of first test against Trump
By Tim Reid and Nathan Layne
DES MOINES, Iowa (Reuters) — Republicans vying to beat a dominant Donald Trump to be the party's nominee in the 2024 U.S. presidential election will crisscross a frozen Iowa this weekend in the final campaigning ahead of the first nominating contest on Monday.
His rivals will be trying to prevent a rematch between Trump and President Joe Biden for the leadership of the world's most powerful country in what looks set to be a close and deeply acrimonious November vote that has raised questions about the depth of support for Europe and even basic democratic values.
Trump, the only current or ex-U.S. president to be charged with criminal activity, holds a commanding lead over Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, who want to place a strong second in Iowa and show they can deliver an upset going forward.
Only four Republicans are left challenging Trump in an unusually truncated field at this initial stage of the nominating process, a sign of the deep support he holds among so many of the party faithful and its upper echelons.
A nationwide Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Tuesday showed Trump with 49% support. Haley, aiming to be the first woman president, was at 12%, while DeSantis garnered 11%. Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson polled at 4% and 0%, respectively.
An Iowa poll released on Thursday showed Trump 41 percentage points ahead of DeSantis and Haley, in second place at 14% each.
But the weather could throw a wrench into weekend campaign plans.
Blizzard conditions could see temperatures plunge to a low of minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 29 degrees Celsius) on Monday, cancel more events and test the resolve
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