President Donald Trump has watched closely as the DeSantis campaign began focusing nearly all of its efforts in the Hawkeye state.
The Iowa Caucus is less than three months out and DeSantis’ operation is engaged in a bootstrapping effort to upset Team Trump and gain early momentum.
How a candidate performs in Iowa can make or break a campaign.
Because of the importance of the state, endorsements from in-state Republican leaders are highly coveted.
Even endorsements from Iowa state legislators are sought after by Presidential campaigns.
Traditionally, the Governor of Iowa stays neutral during the Presidential primary.
Reynold’s had thus far done so, but had campaigned with numerous candidates, including introducing Trump at an event in March.
However, Trump subsequently attacked Reynolds for following that tradition, furious she wouldn’t immediately spurn the other candidates and endorse him.
Trump declined to appear at any further events with her.
“She wanted to campaign with everyone. I told her that I should have ‘remained neutral’ when she asked me to help her get elected, and that I didn’t want or need her to campaign with me,” Trump said. “I am now 41+ Points up in Iowa!”
But the former President was really seeing red when rumors broke over the weekend as to what the Iowa Governor would do next.
Reynolds planned to attend an event with Governor DeSantis, where she was expected to break from Iowa tradition and endorse the Florida Governor.
Trump responded by threatening to “end her political career.”
“If and when Kim Reynolds of Iowa endorses Ron DeSanctimonious, who is absolutely dying in the polls both in Iowa and Nationwide, it will be the end of her political career in that MAGA would never support her again, just as MAGA will never support DeSanctimonious again,” Trump posted. “Two extremely disloyal people getting together is, however, a very beautiful thing to watch.”
This threat coming from Trump certainly has teeth.
After she sided with Democrats attempts to impeach Trump, RINO Congresswoman Liz Cheney suffered a humiliating loss to a Trump-backed primary challenger.
However, other Republicans have been able to break ranks with Trump without suffering political damage.
In 2020, Trump demanded that conservative stalwart Congressman Thomas Massie be “kicked out of the Republican party” after Massie opposed Trump’s $2 trillion COVID spending bill.
In the last election, both Reynolds and DeSantis cruised to reelection in a year that Republicans nationally performed dismally.
An endorsement from the Hawkeye State’s Governor could provide DeSantis with a much-needed boost ahead of the Iowa caucus.
One thing is certain, Reynolds and Trump are now political enemies.
Time will tell which one that ends up hurting.
Political Animal News will keep you up-to-date on any new developments in this ongoing story.
