On Monday, Former President Trump targeted his fellow Republican Presidential Candidate Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, whom Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds endorsed.
In a Truth Social post of Trump on Monday evening, Trump referred to DeSantis as "Ron DeSanctimonious," describing him as a "wounded bird falling from the sky."
Reynolds Believes in DeSantis
He also talked about DeSantis's negative poll numbers, his opposition to Ethanol, and his plans to destroy Social Security and Medicare.
In addition, Trump attacked Governor Kim Reynolds, calling the Iowan Governor the least popular in the country.
Via her support on Monday, Reynolds portrayed DeSantis as a viable presidential candidate and Trump as self-centered.
Reynolds described DeSantis as a leader who will fight and win for the people of the nation and someone who won't get distracted but will stay disciplined, who puts this country first and not himself, she said.
Fox News reports that Reynolds also emphasized to DeSantis' supporters at the rally on Monday night his pro-life position and track record in responding to disasters. The 45-year-old is described as "someone who calls out our moral decline for what it is."
Reynold praised DeSantis for Florida's response to the COVID-19 outbreak, stating that "when the liberals and media came after him, he stood his ground." Florida defied the odds and kept schools and other businesses open with little limitations.
Trump Mentions Reynolds' Disloyalty
Before the endorsement was formally announced, late on Sunday, the former president launched his initial attack on Reynolds. Claiming that the action would be the "end of her political career," and labeled the governor of Iowa "disloyal."
Reynolds initially stated that she would stay out of the 2024 GOP primary by holding events with nearly every candidate in the race in the hotbed early primary state. Trump attacked her neutral position.
"I opened up the Governor position for Kim Reynolds, & when she fell behind, I ENDORSED her, did big Rallies, & she won," Trump said in July. "Now, she wants to remain 'NEUTRAL.' I don't invite her to events! DeSanctus is down 45 points!"
In the Hawkeye State, where Reynolds is still well-liked and regarded as a significant political force, those remarks caused a rift. Reynolds is rated +65 among Republicans and has a net approval rating of +6, The Hill reports.
Meanwhile, senior campaign officials for the DeSantis team believe that winning in Iowa is their best chance of defeating Trump, given his commanding lead in national surveys. As reported by The Hill, despite the rising popularity of former UN official Ambassador Nikki Haley, other GOP contenders were labeled "spoilers" in a recent campaign letter.
DeSantis and Haley are tied for second place in Iowa polling with 16 percent of the vote each, according to a Des Moines Register survey conducted last week. However, that still leaves them 27 points behind Trump, who has maintained a commanding lead since the start of the primary season in early June.
The first primary voting in the country, the Iowa caucus, is scheduled for January 15.
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