Calay News
Former President Donald Trump began his campaign in early-voting Iowa with a rally in Maquoketa, his first of five planned visits to the state through October. Trump is hoping to solidify his lead in the state’s polls and convert it into committed supporters as he seeks a comeback for the White House in 2024.
Addressing a crowd of over 1,000 people, Trump expressed confidence, predicting a “historic landslide” victory in the Iowa caucuses on January 15. He urged attendees to support him and bring friends to caucus for him.
To demonstrate his campaign’s commitment to better organizing in Iowa than in 2016, when he finished second to Ted Cruz, Trump’s team collected signed cards from the crowd pledging support for him in the caucuses. These cards provide essential contact information for voter outreach and volunteer recruitment.
During his speech, Trump acknowledged lessons learned from his 2016 campaign and stated he didn’t like second place, aiming for victory in the upcoming caucuses.
In addition to Maquoketa, Trump visited Dubuque, where he discussed his administration’s efforts to help Iowa farmers and address illegal immigration. He also criticized Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a rival candidate in the 2024 Republican primaries.
While Trump has made multiple visits to Iowa this year, he has not attended key multicandidate events hosted by influential social conservative groups in the state. Nevertheless, he remains the frontrunner in Iowa’s Republican nomination race.
Trump’s campaign has focused on collecting pledge cards and building voter contacts, while his rivals, including DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Tim Scott, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Mike Pence, have campaigned actively in the state. Despite Trump’s limited early-state schedule, he maintains a strong lead in Iowa and is considered a top contender for the Republican nomination in 2024.
