Republican candidates for Monday’s Iowa primaries faced disruptions due to harsh winter conditions, causing flight cancellations and traffic issues. Despite canceling Saturday’s rallies in the Midwest state, former President Donald Trump, the frontrunner, assured voters of his Saturday arrival for the final two campaign days, organizing a virtual event in the evening.
With temperatures plummeting to -17°C in Des Moines on Saturday and the majority of flights for journalists and campaigners redirected, the adverse weather impacted campaign activities. Nikki Haley, former US Ambassador to the UN, managed to hold two events in the state, while Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, currently ranking third in Republican polls, scheduled an afternoon rally in Des Moines, aiming to narrow Trump’s significant lead.
Beyond the political sphere, the winter storm’s repercussions extended nationwide, causing deaths and power outages in hundreds of thousands of homes. Despite these challenges, efforts persist to facilitate Monday night’s voting, as Iowa marks the initial electoral event in the United States for the year.