Weather Doesn’t Stop Florida’s DeSantis
The bitterly cold weather in Iowa is raising concerns about the turnout at Monday night’s caucuses. However, the blast of winter weather didn’t deter Florida Governor Ron DeSantis from holding an early morning event in suburban Des Moines. Despite the challenging conditions, a crowd gathered to hear DeSantis and Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds speak at a meeting of the Northside Conservatives Club. DeSantis praised the attendees for braving the weather and pledged to continue campaigning vigorously. While his remaining campaign stops were postponed due to the weather, DeSantis made an appearance at his campaign headquarters to speak with volunteers.
Others Adapt to the Weather
Due to the rough road conditions across Iowa, former ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley canceled her in-person events and instead held tele-town halls, which were well-attended. Only biotech entrepreneur John Smith maintained his in-person campaign schedule despite the dangerous weather. Former President Trump had to cancel three out of four in-person rallies scheduled for the weekend.
Consequences and Voter Confidence
The lingering effects of the winter blast have raised concerns about voter turnout on caucus night. DeSantis, who is vying for second place in Iowa, expressed confidence that his supporters would still show up, emphasizing their motivation and passion. Other DeSantis supporters echoed this sentiment, stating that a little cold weather wouldn’t deter them. However, some acknowledged that the weather might affect older voters. Haley also acknowledged the challenging conditions but stressed the importance of participating in the caucuses to save the country.
Confidence in Iowans
Despite the frigid forecast, longtime Iowa GOP chair Jeff Kaufmann and former Polk County GOP chair Will Rogers expressed confidence in Iowans’ ability to handle the cold weather and turn out for the caucuses. Kaufmann highlighted the two days of clearing roads before the caucuses and the absence of ice and wind as factors that would mitigate the impact of the cold temperatures.
In conclusion, while the bitter cold weather poses challenges to turnout at the Iowa caucuses, many candidates and supporters remain confident in Iowans’ resilience and commitment to participate in this crucial event.