Welcome to freezing Iowa, where caucusgoers will brave record temperatures, and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is hoping for a miracle.
Today’s primary outcome is all but assured. Donald Trump is polling far ahead of his Republican rivals in the state and maintains a lead with the important evangelical bloc. Thus all eyes will be on the winner — of second place. But while Haley’s poll numbers have given hope to those Republicans who understandably wish for an alternative to a twice-impeached former president under indictment in three states and D.C., I’m here with bad news.
Thus all eyes will be on the winner — of second place.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis went all in on Iowa, traveling to all 99 counties in a campaign push he’s very proud of. But the results have been less than stellar. With days to go, Haley has caught up with DeSantis and might even have a slight edge, depending on what polls you’re looking at. Suffolk University’s latest poll, for example, suggested Haley has leapfrogged ahead of DeSantis by seven points (but is still losing to Trump by 34).
Meanwhile, millions of dollars of pro-Haley TV and radio ads are flooding the state in the final few days.
And what will second place in Iowa get Haley? In primaries of yesteryear, a strong runner-up candidate would leave the Hawkeye State with momentum, money and media attention going into New Hampshire. The Super PAC Americans for Prosperity Action, founded by the Koch brothers, endorsed Haley in late November and started pouring money into Iowa.
Enter Charlie Brown and his frenemy Lucy. Just like Lucy teeing up her football, Trump is now in full attack mode, with Haley his main target. Trump knows his followers are always ready to rally against his enemies. The MAGA base loves nothing more than to air grievances and vow vengeance.
Trump’s birther lies, a racist dog whistle, are red meat for his most fervent fans. (He falsely claimed Haley is ineligible to be president because her…
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