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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds plans to endorse Ron DeSantis for president, giving the Florida governor’s 2024 marketing campaign a lift as he struggles to point out progress in opposition to Donald Trump within the Republican major, two individuals acquainted with the matter mentioned Sunday.
DeSantis has pinned his possibilities of rising as a substitute for Trump different squarely on Iowa. Reynolds is well-liked throughout the GOP and can break with long-standing Iowa custom to endorse DeSantis. Iowa’s governor usually stays impartial earlier than the caucuses that kick off the Republicans’ nomination calendar in January.
The individuals acquainted with the matter spoke to The Related Press on situation of anonymity earlier than a Monday rally in Des Moines the place Reynolds is predicted to announce her endorsement. The Des Moines Register and NBC Information first reported the anticipated endorsement.
Reynolds had launched DeSantis at political occasions in Iowa and appeared with Florida first girl Casey DeSantis — with out publicly declaring her assist. However the governor typically famous her shared coverage priorities and accomplishments, together with a invoice banning abortion at six weeks of being pregnant, earlier than many ladies know they’re pregnant.
Reynolds, who’s in her second time period, had left open the potential of lending her assist to a candidate within the Jan. 15 caucuses.
She had launched Trump at an occasion in March. However Trump has accused her of disloyalty for weighing an endorsement earlier than the caucuses and tried to take credit score for her successful the governorship.
His marketing campaign shortly criticized her on Sunday.
“Kim Reynolds apparently has begun her retirement tour early as she clearly doesn’t have any ambition for greater workplace,” the Trump marketing campaign mentioned in an emailed assertion. “Earlier this yr, she promised her constituents that she would stay impartial within the race, but she has fully gone again on that promise. Regardless, her endorsement is not going to make any distinction on this race.”
Trump additionally weighed in in a collection of offended social media posts, accusing her of disloyalty and reneging on her pledge to stay impartial.
“If and when Kim Reynolds of Iowa endorses Ron DeSanctimonious, who is totally dying within the polls each in Iowa and Nationwide, will probably be the top of her political profession in that MAGA would by no means assist her once more, simply as MAGA won’t ever assist DeSanctimonious once more,” he wrote. “Two extraordinarily disloyal individuals getting collectively is, nonetheless, a really lovely factor to observe. They will now stay loyal to one another as a result of no person else desires them!!!”
Trump is the heavy favourite to win in Iowa. DeSantis is competing with former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley to emerge within the leadoff contest, simply 10 weeks away, as a viable different to Trump.
A month in the past, DeSantis despatched about 20 of his Tallahassee-based marketing campaign headquarters workers to Iowa. The tremendous political motion committee supporting him, By no means Again Down, has had roughly two dozen workers reaching out to would-be caucus members for the reason that summer time.
On Friday, DeSantis spoke to about 50 GOP activists at a early-afternoon cease in Denison, the center of Republican-heavy Crawford County. It was the 86th Iowa county he is visited, on a mission to go to every of its 99, and the final puzzle piece within the bloc of conservative western Iowa.
Reynolds is common throughout the occasion partially for signing a college selection invoice and strict abortion ban this yr.
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