Bob Vander Plaats, the influential leader of a Christian conservative group in Iowa, tossed his support behind Ron DeSantis’ 2024 presidential campaign, saying the Florida governor is a “bold and courageous leader” who can win the general election.
Mr. DeSantis also recently won the support of Gov. Kim Reynolds of Iowa, giving him a pair of powerful allies in his bid to beat former President Donald Trump in the first-in-the-nation caucus.
“I am thrilled to throw my personal endorsement and support behind Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida,” Mr. Vander Plaats, head of the Family Leader, said Wednesday on Fox News. “We need to find someone who can win in 2024.”
Mr. Vander Plaats said Mr. DeSantis deserves credit for leading the GOP to historic wins in Florida and said he has the chance to do the same thing if he wins the Iowa caucuses.
“Iowa is ground zero,” Mr. Vander Plaats said. “If you upend the former president here, I think we are going offer America a choice between President Trump and say a Gov. Ron DeSantis.”
“If President Trump wins Iowa here I think it is going to be awfully hard to make the case that you can beat President Trump and he is going to be your eventual nominee,” he said.
The Trump campaign launched a preemptive strike, announcing that 150 faith leaders in the state had thrown their support behind his campaign and accusing Mr. Vander Plaats of demanding close to $100,000 for his support.
“Kim Reynolds’ endorsement won’t save Ron DeSanctus, and neither will Vander Plaat$’ endorsement,” the Trump campaign said in a statement.
Mr. Vander Plaats rejected the accusation, saying his endorsement “has never been for sale.”
“I think you’d want to go to an experienced leader who has accomplished results versus somebody that I truly believe may be able to win the nomination, in President Trump, but I don’t think America is going to elect him president again,” he said. “What we need to do is find that next-generation leader.”
Iowa could make or break Mr. DeSantis’s presidential aspirations.
He has visited 98 of the state’s 99 counties, putting him a step away from completing the “Full Grassley,” which is named after the state’s veteran Sen. Charles Grassley, who made a habit of visiting all the state’s counties.
Still, Mr. DeSantis has his work cut out for him as he looks to prove to voters he is the party’s best bet to knock off President Biden.
Mr. Trump has a 30-point lead over Mr. DeSantis, according to the Real Clear Politics Average of polls.
Mr. Vander Plaats has a track record of supporting the eventual winner of the Iowa caucuses, which will kick off the nomination battle on Jan. 15.
But those same candidates — former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, former Sen, Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas — did not go on to win the nomination.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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