Staff Reports
In the final poll before the Iowa caucuses, former President Donald Trump is in the lead with a commanding 55 percent support among likely caucus-goers. This comes as no surprise to most Republicans, who are expecting a resounding victory for Trump. Trump’s dominance in the polls is a clear indication that he is the front-runner in the GOP race.
Following Trump is former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who has 21 percent support. While Haley is currently in second place, it remains to be seen if she can maintain this position. Her negatives have been rising as Trump and others intensify their attacks on her, and if she fails to come in a strong second or trails Trump significantly, her path forward may be in jeopardy.
? Final Iowa GOP Caucus Poll
Trump: 55% (+5)
Haley: 21% (+4)
DeSantis: 15% (=)
Ramaswamy: 5% (-3)
Hutchinson: 2% (+2)[Change vs December 15]
Emerson (A-) | 562 LV | 1/11-13 | ±4.2%https://t.co/JzDxzX12hu pic.twitter.com/VUmepY59Wc
— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) January 14, 2024
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is in third place with 15 percent support. DeSantis, who has been publicly predicting a victory in the Iowa caucuses, faces pressure to drop out if he does not deliver a strong finish. Many believe that anything less than a very strong second-place finish for DeSantis would be difficult to justify continuing his campaign beyond Iowa.
Despite the cold winter weather in Iowa, with wind chills reaching far below zero, the caucuses are still expected to take place on Monday. The biggest question heading into the caucuses is whether Trump’s dominance in the polls will translate into votes. If Trump manages to secure a majority support and posts a significant margin over the second-place candidate, it could signal lasting momentum for him in future contests.
Trump’s strong position in the polls is reinforced by major endorsements he has received. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and Sen. Marco Rubio are among the latest politicians to endorse Trump. These endorsements, along with others from top conservatives in Congress, demonstrate a steady stream of party unification behind Trump’s likely eventual general election bid.
Overall, Trump’s commanding lead in the polls and the growing support he is receiving suggest that he is on the path to securing the Republican nomination quickly. However, his remaining challengers still have the opportunity to put up a fight, and the outcome of the caucuses will set the tone for what is to come in the future.
