Former President Donald Trump made a notable appearance in Iowa on Saturday, coinciding with several of his Republican rivals in the state that holds the first nominating caucus next year.
Trump joined one of Iowa’s largest sports gatherings at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, where Iowa State hosted Iowa for a college football grudge match. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and several lesser-known candidates were also present at the game.
While the campaign season traditionally ramps up after Labor Day in the U.S., Trump has largely avoided town halls and other campaign events in Iowa. Despite this, he continues to maintain a significant lead over DeSantis and other rivals, both in Iowa and nationally.
Trump’s visits to Iowa often coincide with DeSantis’s appearances, as he views the Florida governor as his primary threat. Both leaders were present in and around the stadium before the game, reminiscent of a similar scenario last month when Trump attracted large crowds at the Iowa State Fair while DeSantis addressed smaller audiences and enjoyed fairground rides with his family.
Before the game, Trump visited a fraternity house, where he received a warm welcome from students. He even engaged in a game of throwing footballs into the crowd.
On the other hand, DeSantis met with fans from both schools at tailgates, accompanied by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, who has not yet endorsed a candidate but has appeared frequently with DeSantis and his wife, Casey.
Despite Trump’s relatively few visits to Iowa this year, he remains popular among Republicans in the state. Rather than large-scale rallies, Trump has focused on state party events, benefiting from large, friendly audiences without incurring campaign costs. Meanwhile, his political organization has been covering millions of dollars in legal expenses as he faces four criminal indictments.
Trump has also adopted digital outreach methods, including conference calls with tens of thousands of Iowans. However, he has only held a limited number of in-person events with voters this year.
This unique political situation sees a former president seeking to regain his former office while facing over 90 felony counts. In contrast, previous high-profile candidates and front-runners have embraced town halls and retail campaigning in Iowa, in line with the state’s political traditions.
For instance, in 2007, Hillary Clinton, then a U.S. Senator, engaged in grassroots campaigning in Iowa, although she eventually lost the caucus to Barack Obama, who went on to secure the Democratic nomination and presidency.
Trump’s only major Iowa event this year was the Iowa Republican Party Lincoln Dinner in July, a significant fundraiser for the state’s caucus.
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