Ron DeSantis tells Iowans GOP field will 'narrow'

'You either have a path or you don't.'

Ron DeSantis is far behind Donald Trump in recent polls of Hawkeye State Republicans, but he expects attrition in the Republican field to help him.

“I think you are going to see the field narrow because it’s just the reality. I mean, this is a tough thing. You either have a path or you don’t, so I do think you’ll see that. That’ll be natural.” DeSantis said at a tour stop sponsored by the DeSantis-aligned Never Back Down super PAC.

The remarks in Ankeny follow the DeSantis campaign spotlighting a Bloomberg report that Trump’s campaign will focus resources in Iowa after all, including senior advisor Chris LaCivita reportedly “relocating temporarily to Iowa,” $2.4 million of Trump ad buys in the state, and a foray by the former President into the state Saturday.

DeSantis has presented Iowa as his best shot against Donald Trump, telling reporters during a press conference Tuesday that opponents should “collapse” behind him so that anti-Trump votes weren’t split among candidates.

“Here’s what we know. We know that the only two candidates that have a chance to win the Iowa caucus are myself and Donald Trump. That’s it,” DeSantis said.

A survey of 400 Hawkeye State Republicans from the Citizen Awareness Project, conducted by Public Opinion Strategies on Sept. 28 and 29, shows that “Iowa caucus-goers, especially those who watched, say Ron DeSantis won this week’s GOP debate.”

DeSantis, per the polling memo, is viewed as the “strongest on border security” and “best able to defeat Donald Trump” by more than 40% of likely caucus goers.

A CBS News survey released last week showed DeSantis above 20% in the state, though 30 points behind Trump.

DeSantis’ campaign has depicted its Iowa effort as a “drive toward victory.” To that end, he is also moving a third of his staff to the state, in an effort spokesperson Carly Atchison calls “pedal to the metal.”

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7 comments

M. Mouse
October 7, 2023 at 1:17 pm

Narrow field for the narrow minded! That’s our little governor!
Squeak!
Rick Whitaker
October 7, 2023 at 1:43 pm

when desantis says ” that’s just reality ” he says it like he is aware. what he’s not aware of is, people think he’s a creepy guy.
Earl Pitts "Earl's His Name Politics Is His Game" American Super-Man
October 7, 2023 at 2:51 pm

Soon America those “Also Ran’s” will be behind us and it will be just Desantis and Trump remaining.
Prior to the election, just after it will be too late for the left to respond, I Earl Pitts Anerican, will have Trump go on TV and order his voters to vote Desantis.
No we are not going to have Trump “Offically” withdraw in order to keep the left’s options at ZERO.
Thank you America,
EPA
- Rick Whitaker
  October 7, 2023 at 3:46 pm
  
  you sound like a man with a paper ahole. once again, an inane comment from an inane dude. the maga cult is expected to lose the general election and congress, so what band wagon are you going to be on then. i’m betting on a ” they stole the election ” response. how sad for you.
  - Earl Pitts "Earl's His Name Politics Is His Game" American Super-Man
    October 7, 2023 at 9:19 pm
    
    Yet another excelant wacky contraian post which increased my public influncer status by yet another 33 and a third percent amoung voting Americans. Try it for yourself, then pat yourself on the back for a job well done good sir!
    1. First read my post of great wisdom.
    Then
    2. Read next your wacky leftist contrarian post.
    Then
    3. Marvel to yourself how you, and you alone, elevated me from just a regular smart guy to a national mover-and-shaker political go-to-guru status.
    Never underestamate your vital role in increasing my world-wide status of greatness my man Rick.
    I could not do this without you.
    EPA
    - Earl Pitts is a Pedophile
      October 9, 2023 at 12:19 pm
      
      Just ignore Earl and stop engaging with him. He’s a convicted pedophile who belongs on Death Row in a federal prison. If I could, I would pull the switch that sends the 2,000 volts of electricity directly into his brain myself.
      
      From the states sex offender registry:
      
      Lewd, Lascivious batt sex w/victim 12-15 years old; F.S. 800.04(4)(a)
      
      Designation: Sexual Offender
      Name: EARL W PITTS III
      Status: Released – Subject to Registration
      Dept of Corrections #: V38476
      Date of Birth: 09/18/1982
      Race: White
      Sex: Male
      Hair: Brown
      Eyes: Hazel
      Height: 6’00”
      Weight: 252 lbs
My Take
October 7, 2023 at 9:49 pm

“Narrow” the field
====
Sounds like a threat.