Trump, potential VP pick and former actress swarm Iowa ahead of caucuses

In preparation for the Iowa caucuses, Former President Donald Trump is leveraging key surrogates, including a potential running mate, a former TV actress, and one of his sons, to engage voters across the state. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Roseanne Barr, and Eric Trump are part of an extensive campaign strategy aiming to mobilize Trump’s base for the first 2024 presidential nominating contest on Jan. 15.

Jason Miller, a senior adviser to the Trump campaign, emphasized the importance of turning out existing supporters, highlighting the campaign’s commitment to utilizing all available methods for this purpose. Trump is set to intensify his presence in Iowa with a schedule featuring more campaign events in the first two weeks of January than in the last 2 ½ months combined. Despite leading in polls by double digits, Trump’s visits to the state have been relatively sparse, totaling only nine times in the last 90 days.

The campaign’s itinerary includes eight “commit to caucus” events across Iowa, spanning from Sioux City to Clinton on the Illinois border. Trump plans to conclude his pre-caucus activities in Cherokee on Jan. 14 and intends to stay in the state on caucus night. The final swing through Iowa will be initiated by Governor Kristi Noem with a Team Trump Iowa MAGA event in Sioux City.

Prominent figures such as Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene, Roseanne Barr, and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson are slated to speak at various campaign events leading up to caucus night. The campaign has strategically organized daily events from Wednesday to caucus night to maintain momentum.

This approach contrasts with the 2016 campaign, where a weaker ground game resulted in a second-place finish. Despite leading in polls then, Trump’s team is determined to avoid any complacency, adhering to President Trump’s directive to run as if they are trailing, despite a substantial lead. A recent CBS News poll indicates Trump’s comfortable lead, with 58% of likely caucus-goers favoring him over GOP rivals.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, despite significant focus on Iowa, remains in second place. Other contenders like entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley have increased their campaign appearances in Iowa as the caucuses draw near.