US Presidential Elections 2024: Reuters reported that Iowans braved below-freezing conditions as they flocked to various locations in the state for the first Republican presidential primary. As the front-runner, Donald Trump eclipsed the opposition.

With his strong position, former President Donald Trump has turned Iowa’s race for the top slot in the country into a fight for second place. Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis want to present themselves as the primary options.

A momentous occasion, the Iowa caucus, got underway on Monday, January 15, at 7 p.m. local time (0100 GMT on Tuesday, January 16). Despite legal obstacles, Trump has a sizable following in the Midwestern state.

According to the report, voters’ main concerns are immigration and the economy, despite Trump’s widespread support in opinion polls. Different goals are listed by Republicans taking part in the caucuses, according to a survey conducted by Edison Research.

Should Trump secure a resounding victory, it would bolster his argument that he is the only Republican fit to take on Democratic President Joe Biden. Trump’s supporters are upbeat and expecting a landslide victory.

Primary opponent DeSantis is focusing his campaign on Iowa, while Asa Hutchinson and Vivek Ramaswamy are vying for attention. Finishing in third place could be bad for DeSantis’s chances.

According to the analysis, voter turnout may be impacted by dangerously low temperatures, but Trump’s hold on devoted fans may offset the effect. Despite the difficult weather, DeSantis and Haley also conveyed confidence.

The involvement of Democratic voters who register as Republicans in an attempt to sway the outcome of the caucuses is a wildcard factor. The goal of this tactic is to influence the result in a historically important state for the presidential campaign schedule.

The 2016 Republican caucus had around 187,000 votes cast, which was a strong turnout. Iowa has a long history of being involved in presidential campaigns, even though its prior champions failed to win the nomination in close races later on.

Iowa Democrats have postponed their nomination process, so they will not be casting their ballots in person. Formerly a battleground, the state’s political climate currently favors the Republican Party, in contrast to its support for Democratic Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012.

SOURCE: https://www.livemint.com/news/world/us-presidential-elections-2024-donald-trump-emerges-as-front-runner-in-iowa-caucus-amid-freezing-temperatures-11705367619739.html