Posted on 08/28/2016 12:42:35 PM PDT by iowamark
In November 2015 Donald Trump proclaimed to a crowd of Iowans: “How stupid are the people of Iowa?” Two months later he lost the Iowa Republican caucus. Almost a year on he may win the Hawkeye State in the presidential election.
Republicans have only won Iowa once since Ronald Reagan – in 2004, when George Bush eked out a win by 10,000 of more than 1.5 million votes. And yet, among the traditional battleground states, Iowa has become perhaps Trump’s best hope of a win. While national polls show the Republican far behind his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, recent Iowa polls have the candidates neck and neck.
Trump’s strong position is in part due to the fact that unlike in other swing states, the Iowan Republican establishment has rallied conclusively behind him.
On Saturday at the Roast and Ride, a fundraiser featuring pork sandwiches and motorcycles held on behalf of the freshman senator Joni Ernst, every major Iowa Republican was present. All three US representatives and both senators rallied behind Trump. So did Terry Branstad, the longest-serving governor in American history.
With Trump only midway through a speech that touched on hot issues such as immigration policy and his attempt to appeal to African American voters, things almost became awkward: Branstad, Ernst, congressman Steve King, lieutenant governor Kim Reynolds and state party chair Jeff Kaufmann all gathered behind the candidate, squeezing in for a photo opportunity.
As Kaufmann told the Guardian, this rare embrace of a candidate who blew the establishment to pieces in primary season and has not dialled down his rhetoric or style since came about thanks to Iowa’s vulnerable status as the state that kicks off each presidential election...
Republican gains are borne out in registration figures. Since November 2012, Democratic voter registration in Iowa has fallen by 15,000. In the same time, Republicans have picked up almost 20,000 voters. This effort has been helped by two strong midterm results, eradicating the Democratic bench and leaving the party holding only one of the state’s four congressional seats.
In the shifting political math of 2016, all this makes Iowa far more winnable for Trump than many traditionally more competitive states. Accordingly, his campaign has committed significant resources. It is expected that Trump will campaign in the state three or four times a month until election day. Saturday’s Roast and Ride was a taster.
Even if this is not enough, and Trump loses Iowa, the coalition he has built may point to a long-term shift which will make the state less purple and more red. As Kaufmann said, win or lose: “I think we have the ingredients for a realignment.”
That was a statement with which one well-connected Democrat agreed, though he did not want to attach his name to such an opinion. As he said mournfully this weekend: “Increasingly, it seems like it is a Republican state and they just let Democrats live here.”
Trump is massively popular, but the liberal media will never let you know that.
Rock Star Welcome for Donald Trump in Iowa: Hillary Clinton ‘Will Sell You Out’
http://www.breitbart.com/2016-presidential-race/2016/08/27/rock-star-welcome-for-donald-trump-in-iowa-hillary-clinton-will-sell-you-out/
Should read, Clinton has already sold you out
She has a lot of people to pay back
The GOOD GUY won by one vote. There were TWO recounts and the results were exactly the same.
I ALWAYS vote. When I lived out of the country (two years in Mexico and five years in Saudi Arabia) I always INSISTED on voting in whatever elections I could HERE, from THERE.
It's my only voice...albeit a small voice, a voice nevertheless.
I always vote too, but I live in NJ where the democrat wins by {whatever the republican got plus 50,000 just to make sure} so I know my vote is sort of like an act of civil disobedience but nothing more at this point.
Turnout will be the key to a Trump win.
True enough.
You do your civic duty and that allows YOU to look yourself in the mirror and not cringe.
Also, your GOP vote is a THORN (albeit a small thorn) in the side of the Democrat candidate. Lol, KNOW THAT and keep smiling.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.