Staff Reports
Former President Donald Trump made a campaign stop in southeast Iowa as part of his fall campaign push to rally his supporters. Trump chose to visit areas in Iowa that have historically supported Democrats but have shifted their support to him. This is due in part to the decline of trade unions’ influence and the loss of Democratic voters to Republicans.
In Ottumwa, Trump headlined an event at the Bridge View Center, where a whopping 2,500 people gathered to show their support. Ottumwa is a significant hub in eastern Iowa and the seat of Wapello County, which Trump won in 2016 after it had previously voted for Democrat Barack Obama.
This visit marked Trump’s second trip to eastern Iowa in two weeks, and he has been drawing large crowds wherever he goes. His campaign is working hard to encourage voters to commit to supporting him in the Jan. 15 caucuses, where several other Republican contenders are vying to challenge his popularity within the party. Trump expressed confidence in his ability to win the caucuses in a landslide victory during his speech in Ottumwa.
Despite the sweltering heat, the crowd patiently waited for hours to enter the event, demonstrating their dedication to Trump. In contrast, only around 200 people attended a campaign stop by former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley in suburban Des Moines the previous day. Trump’s popularity is clearly on display, and he is expected to make more appearances in Iowa in the coming weeks.
The Trump campaign is not specifically targeting counties that Trump flipped in 2016, but they have been successful in the eastern part of Iowa. This region has seen a decline in manufacturing, and Trump’s renegotiation of trade pacts has resonated with voters.
Trump touts trade, farm policy in friendly blue-collar, eastern Iowahttps://t.co/DHabvmcpTp pic.twitter.com/vmPYEWJ5bp
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) October 2, 2023
Rick Anderson and his wife Nancy, who used to vote Democratic, are among the many voters who switched their support to Trump in 2016. They are exactly the type of voters that the Trump campaign wants to persuade to caucus for him in January. Rick, a retired union millwright, expressed his support for Trump’s energy policies and believes that Democrats have lost touch with people like him.
After his event in Ottumwa, Trump visited a soybean farm in Leighton, Iowa, where he autographed a John Deere combine and highlighted his administration’s trade policies. He also criticized House Republicans for not securing a better deal in the government spending measure.
Trump’s Republican rivals in Iowa are scrambling for support, hoping to make a strong showing and consolidate the non-Trump vote. Meanwhile, Trump continues to maintain a strong lead in the state.
Overall, Trump’s visit to Iowa was a success, with thousands of supporters turning out to see him and show their commitment to his campaign. It remains to be seen how his rivals will fare in the upcoming caucuses, but Trump’s popularity in the state is undeniable.
