“I will be rooting for him”
“I hope and pray that they don’t take that nomination away from him,” DeSantis remarked to the group on Wednesday.
Source: Brandon Bell/Getty Images
“We want him to be the Democratic nominee. And I will be rooting for him.”
DeSantis Criticizes Biden’s Debate Performance
DeSantis criticized Biden’s performance in a late June debate, asserting that it demonstrated Biden’s unfitness for office.
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He alerted Iowa Republicans that “the knives are out” for Biden among his own party members.
Adam Schiff Raises Concerns
Earlier that day, U.S. Representative Adam Schiff, D-Calif., became the most prominent Democrat so far to publicly suggest that Biden should step aside.
Source: Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia
DeSantis Warns Republicans to Prepare for Democratic Resistance
“I think we need to prepare that something can happen, and something probably will,” DeSantis added.
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“Democrats usually don’t just cede power. You know, they usually go down kicking and screaming. So be ready.”
DeSantis Predicts Media Support for New Democratic Challenger
DeSantis anticipated that the media would support a new Democratic candidate with “hundreds of millions of dollars in positive coverage.”
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This candidate would challenge Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump.
DeSantis' Aggressive Iowa Campaign
DeSantis campaigned vigorously in Iowa ahead of the 2024 Republican caucuses.
Source: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
He addressed the delegation on the third day of the national convention following his well-received primetime speech on Tuesday night.
Senator Joni Ernst Expresses Doubts
U.S. Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa also expressed her skepticism about Biden’s political future.
Source: Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia
“Oh my gosh, folks,” she said. “He is on a nosedive. And the sad thing is they’ve dug in so deep at this point, how on earth did they get rid of him?”
Ernst Highlights Republican Confidence
Ernst conveyed the Republicans’ growing confidence, stating they’ve “started measuring curtains” for the Virginia Senate office.
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“While I don’t want to say we’re going to waltz into the White House with Donald J. Trump this fall, we can’t take it for granted,” Ernst warned. “I don’t want you to take it for granted. But I can tell you with the enthusiasm and the excitement that we have felt during this convention, and what we will feel leading up to the election, we are going to sweep this election not just for President Trump, but we’re going to see a majority in the United States Senate.”
Iowa Delegation Gathers for Lunch
The Iowa delegation convened for lunch on Wednesday at the Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum, overlooking sailboats on Lake Michigan, just outside downtown Milwaukee.
Source: Michael Barera/Wikimedia
Early discussions about the 2028 presidential cycle were already buzzing, with visits from 2024 presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and U.S. Representative Wesley Hunt of Texas the previous day.
Iowa Republicans Set to Host First-in-the-Nation 2028 Caucuses
Iowa Republicans are expected to hold the state’s first-in-the-nation caucuses again to kick off the 2028 presidential nominating contest.
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Their delegation events are typically well attended by those with future White House ambitions.
DeSantis’s 2028 Ambitions Threatened by JD Vance’s Rising Profile
DeSantis, who finished a distant second to Trump in the 2024 Iowa caucuses, still has considerable political potential at age 45.
Source: Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia
However, his aspirations might be complicated by the selection of Ohio U.S. Senator JD Vance as Trump’s running mate, positioning Vance as a strong contender for the MAGA legacy and the 2028 race.