Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ campaign kick-off event in suburban Des Moines Tuesday was just the beginning of an action-packed week ahead in Iowa presidential politics.
Up next, former President Donald Trump, Fox News and CNN town halls, and U.S. Senator Joni Ernst’s famous Roast and Ride featuring a long list of GOP presidential hopefuls.
DeSantis wrapped up his two-day swing through Iowa Wednesday with several stops in the first-in-the-nation caucus state. He visited a welding facility in Salix, near Sioux City in the western part of the state, met with voters in Council Bluffs (on Omaha’s doorstep), before moving — quickly — to planned campaign events in Pella and Cedar Rapids on the other side of the state. DeSantis is then off to New Hampshire and South Carolina, the first two GOP primary states, for campaign stops on Thursday and Friday.
The governor did something in Iowa he hadn’t done much before officially declaring his candidacy: he took some shots at Trump.
Expect the former president to reciprocate during his latest swing through Iowa beginning Thursday.
Trump plans campaign stops outside the Machine Shed in Urbandale and at the First Church of the Open Bible in Des Moines before a town hall with Fox News’ Sean Hannity from suburban Des Moines Thursday evening.
Other presidential hopefuls coming through the Hawkeye State include former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson on Thursday in Nevada, and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley will host a town hall on CNN Sunday evening live from Des Moines.
Saturday features a veritable smorgasbord of GOP presidential candidates in Des Moines for Iowa U.S. Senator Joni Ernst’s annual Roast & Ride. The motorcycle ride runs from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. from Big Barn Harley Davidson in Des Moines (Rider check-in begins at 9:30 a.m.) The pig roast and rally runs from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.
“Republicans know the importance of keeping Iowa’s caucus as the FIRST in the nation, and we are thrilled to welcome numerous special guests at this year’s event,” the Republican senator’s events page states
DeSantis is the latest to commit to attending Ernst’s annual fundraiser, which means he’s coming back to the Hawkeye State after his quick campaign trip east. Other Republican presidential candidates (declared and considering) slated to attend include: Haley, Ohio entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former vice president Mike Pence, South Carolina U.S. Senator Tim Scott, Hutchinson, conservative talk radio host Larry Elder, and Michigan businessman Perry Johnson.
– – –
M.D. Kittle is the National Political Editor for The Star News Network.
Photo “Ron DeSantis” by Ron DeSantis.
