Two Palmetto State Republican presidential hopefuls are heading back to Iowa this week for another round of campaigning.
U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-South Carolina) and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley plan multiple stops in the Hawkeye State.
Scott, who reportedly is on the verge of announcing his decision on a White House run, is slated to make his second trip to Iowa this year, beginning on Wednesday. He will be the special guest of the Five Seasons Republican women at a dinner at the Cedar Rapids County Club. Doors open at 4:30 p.m.
Earlier in the day, Scott is slated to join Iowa U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA-02) at 9:30 a.m. for a roundtable discussion with homeschool families, according to the campaign.
Haley will be in western and central Iowa this week, her third trip to the Hawkeye State since announcing her campaign for president in February.
The former United Nations ambassador held a town hall meeting with U.S. Representative Randy Feenstra (R-IA-04) Monday evening in Salix.
On Tuesday, Haley will attend a Republican Party of Iowa Fort Dodge reception from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Cardiff Center in Fort Dodge.
And on Wednesday, the candidate will hold a Women for Nikki Haley Town Hall at 9 a.m. (doors open at 8 a.m.) at the Temple of Performing Arts Center in Des Moines.
Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is scheduled to make a return trip to Iowa next week, beginning on Friday, April 21, in Jackson County, according to the campaign. The Ohio entrepreneur and anti-woke crusader has visited Iowa twice since his campaign launch in February.
The latest forays into Iowa by the presidential hopefuls follows former Republican Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake’s visit to her home state last weekend. At one point during her address to Republicans at the University of Iowa, Lake, who is legally challenging her loss to Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs, was called a “fascist liar” by an unidentified man in the crowd.
“Actually, really? In what way, sir?” before she was informed that the person had left, Newsweek reported.
“Oh, he ran,” Lake said and added: “I will have a debate with that guy any day of the week.”
That remark was met with some laughter and cheers.
A poll from from J.L. Partners showed Lake with the highest popularity among state GOP voters as a possible running mate with former President Donald Trump in his run for the GOP presidential nomination.
As Newsweek reported, Lake was overwhelmingly favored among potential Iowa Caucus voters who prefer Trump over Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as the Republican presidential nominee.
“Among Trump supporters, 32 percent said Lake should be the vice presidential candidate, compared to 10 percent who picked former South Carolina Governor and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley,” the publication reported. “However, voters who want DeSantis to be the GOP nominee preferred Haley (34 percent), South Carolina Senator Tim Scott (15 percent) or former Housing Secretary Ben Carson (14 percent) over Lake (8 percent) as Trump’s running mate.”
Lake has said she’s concentrating on her lawsuits over last November’s election.
– – –
M.D. Kittle is the National Political Editor for The Star News Network.
Photo “Kari Lake” by The Kari Lake. Photo “Tim Scott” by Renee Bouchard. Photo “Nikki Haley” by Nikki Haley. Background Photo “Iowa State Capitol” by Tony Fischer. CC BY 2.0.
