Trump up big in GOP race ahead of Iowa caucuses

ANKENY, Iowa — Former President Donald Trump sits atop a commanding lead heading into the Iowa caucuses on Monday.

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, meanwhile, has leapfrogged Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis into second place.

The final Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa Poll found Mr. Trump is the top choice of 48% of Iowa voters, followed by Ms. Haley, 20%, Mr. DeSantis, 16% and Vivek Ramaswamy, 8%.

Mr. Trump’s slipped slightly from last month when his support eclipsed 50 percent, but still has the most support among key voting blocs and the most energized supporters.

In the race to be the chief alternative to Mr. Trump, Ms. Haley’s support ticked up from the last month and Mr. DeSantis’ support slipped a bit.

At the same time, Ms. Haley’s supporters were found to be less enthusiastic about turning out to the caucuses when forecasts have the temperatures dipping well below zero.

The survey showed 88% of Mr. Trump’s supporters are enthusiastic, compared to 62% for Mr. DeSantis and 39% for Ms. Haley.

That could prove to be good news for Mr. DeSantis.

He has gone all-in on the state of Iowa and could struggle to make a case that he should continue his candidacy if he finishes outside of the top two spots.

Mr. Trump also is well ahead among evangelical Christian voters, who have comprised over 60% of caucusgoers in recent competitive elections.

The poll capped a busy day in which Mr. Trump’s rivals tried to take advantage of his absence from the campaign trail. 

Ms. Haley, Mr. DeSantis, Mr. Ramaswamy and lesser-known contenders fanned out across the state on a cold day as part of a final push to energize their troops and woo undecided voters.

“The only way we are going to win the majority of Americans is if we go forward with a new generational conservative leader and leave the negativity and the baggage behind, and go forward with the new solutions of the future,” Ms. Haley said at a campaign stop in Cedar Falls. 

The former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations said if Republicans want to beat President Biden in the general election, then she is their strongest choice.

Campaigning with Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, Christian activist Bob Vander Plaats and Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, Mr. DeSantis criticized Mr. Trump for failing to fulfill various promises as president and lying about his record on the coronavirus.

He said Ms. Haley “represents kind of the warmed-over corporate strain of the Republican establishment, which really has not served this country well.”

“I can tell you this, if you’re willing to go out there [to caucus], and you’re willing to brave the elements on a cold, windy, snowy January night for me and do that for a few hours, I’ll fight for you for the next eight years, and we will turn this country around,” Mr. DeSantis said.

Mr. Trump, meanwhile, held a tele-rally after adjusting his schedule because of the snow and cold.

The former president fielded questions from Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird in a town hall-like setting with an audience of supporters.

Mr. Trump said he plans to teach Mr. Biden and Democrats “a lesson” in the general election, but first has to take care of business by beating back Ms Haley, Mr. DeSantis and to a lesser extent Mr. Ramaswamy.

He said the only way that is going to happen is for his voters to send a message in the caucuses.

“I worry about [the weather] but at the same time I watching even the newscast today,  they are saying the Trump voter has so much more spirit, dedication,” he said. They say they walk over glass — that the Trump voter is coming to vote.”