Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is set to launch his presidential campaign with a tour across three states, beginning in Iowa. However, his prospects are challenging. DeSantis lags significantly behind former President Donald Trump in the preferences of Iowa’s Republican caucus voters, with a substantial 42-point deficit, as indicated by a recent Emerson College poll.
Trump commands a commanding lead among potential Republican presidential contenders in Iowa, securing the support of 62% of voters, while DeSantis trails at just 20%. The rest of the field, encompassing potential and declared 2024 candidates, struggles to reach double-digit support.
DeSantis officially declared his presidential candidacy in a Twitter Spaces event marked by technical glitches.
The Iowa poll reflects a broader national sentiment, with DeSantis trailing Trump by an average of approximately 40 points in national polls. Early primary states like Iowa will play a pivotal role in determining the longevity and viability of his campaign.
DeSantis is commencing his “Great American Comeback” tour, commencing with an event in Des Moines, Iowa, followed by stops in Sioux City, Council Bluffs, Pella, and Cedar Rapids on the following day. Subsequently, the governor will proceed to New Hampshire and South Carolina.
DeSantis seems to be prioritizing Iowa in his early campaign strategy, a state Trump lost to Senator Ted Cruz of Texas in 2016. DeSantis has already undertaken two campaign trips to Iowa.
A supportive group, the Never Back Down PAC, is reportedly planning to invest $100 million in a voter outreach campaign across the three states and Nevada in an effort to bolster DeSantis’ candidacy as he vies against Trump.
The Emerson poll also reveals that DeSantis would perform less favorably against President Joe Biden in a general election compared to Trump. Nonetheless, in a reliably Republican state like Iowa, the outcome would likely favor the Republican nominee regardless.
