Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley find themselves in a tight race to secure the second spot following the Iowa caucus on January 15, where former President Donald Trump is expected to maintain his stronghold. However, this contest also signifies the potential of both candidates to emerge as leading contenders in the 2028 race.
While DeSantis and Haley face an uphill battle against Trump in Iowa, they view a strong second-place finish as pivotal in positioning themselves as the primary challengers to Trump's 2024 nomination. Foreseeing future prospects, a robust performance in Iowa could signal their potential for the 2028 campaign, as suggested by various media reports.
Recent polls among Iowa Republican caucus-goers indicate that Haley and DeSantis are trailing Trump, with DeSantis slightly ahead of Haley, both placed in the teens. However, late shifts in momentum are not uncommon in Iowa, leaving open the possibility for either candidate to surpass the other on caucus night, according to CNN.
With the Iowa caucuses approaching rapidly, the focus is shifting towards the race for the second position. Groups supporting DeSantis and Haley are heavily investing in ads targeting each other for the runner-up spot rather than directly challenging the frontrunner, Trump. Laura Belin, an experienced Iowa politics observer, emphasized the unpredictability of voters, highlighting the potential impact of unanticipated audience inquiries on the candidates' performances.
Belin pointed out Haley's recent stumble in responding to a question about the Civil War, underscoring the volatility of such moments in shaping public perception. CNN's upcoming back-to-back town hall meetings featuring Haley and DeSantis in Des Moines hold significant importance, not only for undecided caucus-goers but also due to the potential amplification of sound bites in subsequent media coverage.
Mistakes tend to garner more attention than noteworthy moments in politics, prompting DeSantis and Haley to focus on avoiding missteps and aiming for impactful moments that can be leveraged by their campaigns on social media or in closing Iowa ads, Belin observed.
With the approaching CNN-hosted debate in Des Moines, featuring only Haley and DeSantis (Trump participating in a Fox News town hall), there's an anticipation for increased viewership interest compared to previous debates in this cycle. This platform presents a crucial opportunity for the candidates to engage a national audience before the caucuses, without the distraction of other candidates, according to Belin.
(With Agency Inputs)
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