Despite his limited presence on Iowa’s campaign trail, Donald Trump is firmly in the lead, according to the latest poll reported by Politico. The highly anticipated Iowa Poll has dashed hopes for other Republican candidates to gain significant traction in the state. Trump’s dominance is evident, with even Iowa’s devoted evangelical voters showing strong support.
While some lower-polling candidates have made modest gains, none have come close to toppling Trump, whose closest rival, Ron DeSantis, trails by a substantial 23-point margin.
Kelley Koch, chair of the Dallas County Republican Party, remarked, “It’s as if Trump has a firm hold on Iowa.” Surprisingly, Trump’s recent legal troubles in Georgia appear to have boosted his standing in Iowa, as his lead has widened.
Despite frequent visits to the state and a higher favorability rating than Trump, DeSantis has struggled to make a significant dent in the former president’s lead.
Even within the evangelical demographic, where other candidates have focused their campaigns, Trump maintains a commanding lead over DeSantis by 27 points.
However, Trump’s decision to skip Wednesday’s primary debate, citing his lead over the rest of the field, has raised concerns among some Republican leaders about potential harm to the GOP electorate.
Despite substantial spending on television ads by DeSantis and other candidates, the latest poll results indicate that Trump’s hold on Iowa remains unchallenged.