Former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis head into their respective Iowa campaign events on Saturday eyeing different objectives that reflect their drastically different standings in the GOP primary.
Trump, who enjoys a commanding polling lead over the rest of the Republican field both in Iowa and nationally, is expected to ramp up his criticism of and deploy new attacks against President Joe Biden in a speech in Cedar Rapids, according to a senior Trump campaign aide.
DeSantis, meanwhile, heads to the Hawkeye State looking for a jolt to his lagging campaign as he tries to fend off a recent surge by former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and close the wide gap between him and Trump heading into the final few weeks before the caucuses.
Trump’s focus on Biden rather than the GOP candidates who trail him in the polls is the latest sign Trump is looking beyond the Republican primary to a potential general election rematch with the president. It also comes as the Biden campaign sharpens its criticism of Trump and leans more heavily into spotlighting some of the former president’s hardline positions and proposals, including on health care, immigration and abortion.
“Everybody will feel the love tomorrow, but the main focus will be Biden,” the senior Trump campaign aide told CNN on Friday.
Trump on Saturday is scheduled to hold a “Commit to Caucus” event in Ankeny before heading to Cedar Rapids for a second speech. DeSantis will be holding an event in Sioux City.
The Florida governor this weekend is looking to complete his tour of all 99 counties in Iowa – a feat known as the “full Grassley,” and named after Republican Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, who visits all counties in the state every time he’s up for reelection. DeSantis will be looking to capitalize on the endorsements he received from popular Iowa Gov. Kim…
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