Ron DeSantis tells Iowans ‘consultants’ advised against ‘The Full Grassley’

DeSantis Newton Iowa via campaign
'Sometimes they will advise you not to do it.'

Ron DeSantis finished his 99th and final Iowa county Saturday. And as he tells it, he was advised that the Pokemon Go-style “Gotta Catch Them All” approach to campaigning may not have been the wisest approach.

The Florida Governor told Iowans Saturday that he saw the loop as a way to “get out of the media fog” and “listen to real Americans,” noting that certain political professionals thought visiting the entire state was not the best investment of time.

“A lot of campaign consultants will tell you that you can be in more populated areas or you can even get into other states and sometimes they will advise you not to do it,” he said, regarding the so-called “full Grassley.”

“But to me, it was the right thing to do because you need to actually get out of the media fog. You can’t just be on what’s on social media. Don’t worry about what the cable stations are saying. Talk to real Americans, listen to real Americans, answer their questions, ask them for their support,” he said in Newton, upon the occasion of completing the “Full Grassley” by visiting every county in the state.

DeSantis’ Iowa endorsers were on hand, including an evangelical leader and the state’s Governor.

Bob Vander Plaats wondered if this was DeSantis’ “Esther Moment,” referring to a critical time faced in the Old Testament book by the same name.

He said DeSantis would be “totally fine” to remain the Governor of Florida, but he “sees what’s at stake and he’s willing to put the cause above himself.”

He then offered a prayer for God’s “hand of favor and blessing on his campaign,” before predicting mid-prayer that not only would DeSantis “win the Iowa caucuses” but that he would also “go on and win the early states.”

Gov. Kim Reynolds stressed the importance of DeSantis “going to all 99 counties,” saying it’s “really important for the candidate” to hear about Iowan issues and to participate in “retail politics.”

She lauded the DeSantises for hitting all counties in a “compressed timeline,” one that of course was abetted by Florida taxpayers, as he spent many days out of state campaigning since officially launching, and weeks before that on a “book tour” that also brought him to the Hawkeye State.

First Lady Casey DeSantis also offered remarks, noting that the children — now 7, 5, and 3 years old — were “asleep in the car” because they woke up early in the morning.

“It was the first time they’d seen snow,” Casey DeSantis asserted, saying the young ones had a “snowball fight.”

However the campaign goes, the memories will last a lifetime.

A.G. Gancarski

A.G. Gancarski has been the Northeast Florida correspondent for Florida Politics since 2014. His work also can be seen in the Washington Post, the New York Post, the Washington Times, and National Review, among other publications. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter: @AGGancarski


6 comments

  • rick whitaker

    December 2, 2023 at 9:16 pm

    does desantis not know enough about politics to listen to professionals instead of doing it his way. what an egotist.

  • Marvin M.

    December 2, 2023 at 10:59 pm

    “Bob Vander Plaats wondered if this was DeSantis’ “Esther Moment,” referring to a critical time faced in the Old Testament book by the same name.

    He then offered a prayer for God’s “hand of favor and blessing on his [DeSantis’] campaign,” before predicting mid-prayer that not only would DeSantis “win the Iowa caucuses” but that he would also “go on and win the early states.”

    OK, so, if DeSantis doesn’t win Iowa, then … prayer doesn’t work? Oh wait, no, sometimes God just doesn’t answer the way you want, I think that’s it.

    So if ya lose Iowa Ron, kinda suggests God doesn’t want you to be president, and maybe He just thought He’d be merciful by not stringing you along with false hope by showing you that early on. Drop out sooner rather than later. Get those darling kids of yours back in school. Be in Florida for the next Florida legislative session. There’s so much work to do here.
    You did win the governor election in 2022 in Florida, but the rest of the country is just Not That Into You. In fact, from the looks of it, you won’t even win Florida in the Presidential Primary, so for God’s sake, please – take the freaking hint.

    • Tom

      December 3, 2023 at 7:34 am

      That’s kind of the problem with narcissists – taking a hint is not their strong suit.

  • Michael K

    December 3, 2023 at 10:55 am

    Who leaves their kids asleep in a car?

  • Debra

    December 3, 2023 at 11:32 am

    The DeSantis kids are used as pawns. Listening to DeSantis voice makes me sick. He has caused Florida heartache.

  • Biscuit

    December 3, 2023 at 2:21 pm

    NewsPoop out of Iowa: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis painted a vivid picture of himself as a visionary loner who rejected the advice of unnamed and possibly imaginary advisors. Moments later, the crowd was awakened by a dog howling at an imaginary moon.
    Good dog.
    Arf.

Comments are closed.


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