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(CNN) The conflicting ambitions of former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis clashed in Iowa on Saturday, bringing the two closest on the road to their 2024 showdown.
DeSantis plans to flip burgers and chat with potential caucus attendees in northwestern Iowa before speaking at a local Republican fundraiser in Cedar Rapids on Saturday. Meanwhile, that evening in Des Moines, Trump is scheduled to address thousands of supporters at a signature rally, his first campaign event since CNN City Hall Wednesday, where a jury will find him guilty of sexual abuse and sexual abuse. It’s the first time it’s been done in a controlled environment since he was convicted. Defamation of author E. Jean Carroll.
“We’re going to Iowa because we’re going to Iowa,” said one of Trump’s advisers. “We are 100% focused on hosting this trip and reaching out to potential voters.”
Despite Trump’s early dominance in the Republican primary, the decision to bracket Mr. DeSantis’ visit and repeated attacks aimed at his rival is still a sign that the former president remains the Florida governor. It indicates that it considers it the most serious potential challenger for the party’s nomination.
DeSantis is cautiously approaching his own presidential race as the 2024 Republican front-runner. The governor has spent much of the past month dodging Trump, dodging the former president’s constant messages and deflecting questions about his potential rival’s growing legal troubles, but formally There is little indication that he intends to change his strategy before entering the race. the next few weeks.
“There’s a lot going on in the news, but we’ve been busy,” DeSantis said on Wednesday, the day after E. Jean Carroll’s sentencing.
DeSantis’ allies launch an attack
But DeSantis’ allies are beginning to test the possibility of a counterattack. Ahead of Trump’s CNN broadcast at New Hampshire City Hall, DeSantis’ affiliated super PAC, Never Back Down, called the former president a “loss of luster” and said he was “a fading candidate.” I think he’s on cable to hang on to a certain president,” he suggested. “Favorite candidate” status. During Wednesday’s event, Super PAC cheered on host Kaitlan Collins for pushing President Trump through an unfinished wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, prompting President Trump to ban bump stocks and turn against gun owners. accused of doing so.
After Trump left the stage, the group tweeted a list of controversies Trump had spent an hour discussing. It included a sexual abuse case, an investigation into “classified taxpayer-owned documents hidden in Mar-a-Lago,” and Trump’s attempt. Overturning the 2020 Georgia presidential election, and his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riots, and whether to pardon the rioters.
“How does this make America great again?” the tweet said.
The letter marked the aggressive targeting of President Trump on topics DeSantis himself was reluctant to discuss. DeSantis has repeatedly refused to answer questions about the 2020 election results or Trump’s election lies. And when Mr. DeSantis has taken on these controversies, he has largely backed Mr. Trump.
Mr DeSantis initially called the January 6th Capitol attack “unacceptable”, but as the first anniversary of the bloody riots came, the report was “disgusting” and the media “disgusted”. It’s Christmas to slander those who support Donald.” Mr Trump. When the FBI visited President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago mansion last summer to seize classified documents, DeSantis called it “a new escalation in the weaponization of federal agencies.”
Meanwhile, his political team, which runs a “quick-response” Twitter account to swiftly counter negative press and criticism seen as political opponents, said Trump suggested the governor was far behind in speaking. Despite this, he never tweeted about CNN City Hall. Polls say he should relax and think slowly about the future.
Trump has made the governor of Florida the main focus of his attacks, criticizing DeSantis’ voting record as a congressman on issues such as a review of his credentials, and winning Trump’s endorsement for the presidency in the 2018 gubernatorial race. He accused him of being dishonest in considering running for office. The former president spoke out again on social media on Friday ahead of his visit to Iowa. President Trump also appears to be threatening DeSantis with considering announcing a 2024 bid.
In an interview with Fox News Digital last fall, President Trump said, “I’ll tell you the less flattering things about him. I know him better than anyone — except maybe his wife. yes,” he said.
While it’s not uncommon for super PACs to get involved in the dirty work of the candidates they support, some of DeSantis’ most ardent online allies have been criticized in the face of Trump’s more aggressive jabs. also seem to be offended by the message. It’s the latest sign of a difficult task ahead for the Republican Party as it tries to overtake a figure who remains an icon for many in the party.
John Cardillo, a conservative influencer with access to DeSantis’ political activism, in a tweet He called Never Back Down’s approach “rehabilitation of outdated issues.”
“I assure you this was written by a Democrat.” tweeted Brendon Leslie, who runs a website called Florida’s Voice, is known in the state for his fervent coverage of DeSantis.
Never Back Down stood by the approach.
“We are not afraid to set the facts straight and push back the misguided attacks from potential opponents that we fear will face if we run for governor,” SuperPAC spokeswoman Erin Perrine said in a statement. Stated. CNN. “Americans know Ron DeSantis is the future.”
Return to Hawkeye State
Saturday marks Trump’s second visit to Iowa since announcing his presidential campaign in November, and advisers told CNN that the focus will be on educating voters about caucuses and voter support. said. President Trump recorded at least one video that will be shown during the rally explaining the caucus process and encouraging Iowans to learn about it. His team is already scrutinizing data gathered from dozens of events Trump has hosted in the state since entering the 2015 presidential race, and how many of those Trump supporters have been registered to vote. and plans to work together to make sure they still support the former president.
Despite appearing in the same state, Iowa’s DeSantis eschews Trump and will continue to push for the conservative victory he pushed in the recently closed Florida legislature.
His trip to Hawkeye is also an opportunity for Iowans to see another side of DeSantis. During two appearances in Iowa earlier this year, Mr. DeSantis greeted the audience from the podium, posed for photos while standing behind a rope, and signed a new book for attendees.
On Saturday, DeSantis took on his Midwestern retail politics at Republican Rep. Randy Feenstra’s annual family picnic in the northwestern city of Sault Center, the state’s most conservative corner. i plan to try it. After Mr. DeSantis speaks, he, Mr. Feenstra, and his wife are expected to mingle and grill food for the crowd.
DeSantis will then deliver a keynote address for a Republican fundraiser in Cedar Rapids, his 12th since March. The first 10 people raised more than $4.3 million for local Republicans, his political team told CNN.
Prior to the visit, Never Back Down announced that 37 Iowa legislators supported DeSantis, a show of force that included several in the party’s leadership. DeSantis’ supporters include Senate Speaker Amy Sinclair, who is seen as a young conservative leader from rural Iowa, and House Majority Leader Matt Windsitol.
Shortly after the super PAC’s announcement, people familiar with the Trump campaign’s plans said the Trump campaign will reveal the support of the former president from about 150 Iowa county leaders and grassroots activists.
Feenstra said earlier this week that he would stick to his plan not to participate in the primary at this time and would not endorse DeSantis at Saturday’s event.
“We have a fantastic line-up of candidates right now and I’m looking forward to seeing them all,” he said. “Iowa has so many great things, I just want to show you that.”
CNN’s Jeff Zeleny and Alayna Treene contributed to this report.
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