Renowned Iowa pollster Ann Selzer discusses likely caucusgoers' views of the candidates and how things could change in the final week of the campaign. ABC News reporters share insights from months of talking to voters and listening to candidates in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. Topics include Trump's support among demographic groups, the threat to the Constitution, challenges in polling, and Nikki Haley's campaign challenges in South Carolina.
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Quick takeaways
Donald Trump's strong support in the Republican primary contest in Iowa is attributed to his track record on immigration, national security, and the economy.
Republican voters in Iowa express support for Trump based on his performance as president, making it easier for them to decide whether to support him or consider alternative candidates like Nikki Haley and Chris Christie.
Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, and Vivek Ramaswamy employ different campaign strategies to gain support and differentiate themselves from Trump, including emphasizing electability, grassroots campaigning, and maintaining momentum.
Deep dives
Overview of the Republican primary contest in Iowa
The podcast episode provides an overview of the Republican primary contest in Iowa, highlighting the dominance of Donald Trump as the front-runner and the challenges faced by other candidates like Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, and Chris Christie. Trump's strong support is attributed to his track record on issues like immigration, national security, and the economy. The podcast also discusses the campaign strategies of the various candidates, the limited campaigning in South Carolina, and the importance of Iowa and New Hampshire in shaping the Republican primary race.
Key issues and concerns of Republican voters
The podcast focuses on the key issues and concerns of Republican voters, including immigration, national security, and the economy. Voters expressed support for Trump based on his strong stance on these issues and the positive impact they believe he had on their lives during his presidency. The podcast emphasizes that Trump's performance as president, good or bad, is well-known to voters which makes it easier for them to decide whether to support him or consider alternatives like Nikki Haley and Chris Christie.
Campaign strategies of the candidates
The podcast delves into the campaign strategies of the Republican candidates, with a particular focus on Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, and Vivek Ramaswamy. It discusses the efforts made by these candidates to gain voter support and differentiate themselves from Trump. Haley is highlighted for her electability argument and efforts to distance herself from Trump's administration, while DeSantis is noted for his strong presence in Iowa and his focus on grassroots campaigning. The podcast also mentions Vivek Ramaswamy's past peak popularity and the challenge he faces in maintaining momentum.
Voter reactions to Nikki Haley's gaffe
The podcast explores voter reactions to Nikki Haley's recent gaffe regarding the cause of the Civil War. While some voters seemed unfazed by her response, others, particularly independent voters, felt offended or uncertain about her candidacy after the incident. The podcast highlights the importance of strong messaging and the potential impact of such gaffes, especially in trying to attract independent voters who are key in swing states like New Hampshire.
Preview of Joe Biden's campaign event
The podcast briefly previews Joe Biden's campaign event in Charleston, South Carolina, where he is expected to focus on combating extremism and hate-fueled rhetoric. It mentions Biden's previous speeches on similar themes and his efforts to unite the country against political violence and division. The event's location at the Mother Emanuel Church, a site of a tragic white supremacist shooting, adds symbolic significance to Biden's message of unity and moving forward as a nation.
The Iowa caucuses are just a week away, and in this installment, the 538 Politics podcast sets its sights on the early states. Galen speaks with celebrated Iowa pollster Ann Selzer about likely caucusgoers' views of the candidates and how things could change in the final week of the campaign. Later in the show, Galen is joined by ABC News reporters Kendall Ross in Iowa, Kelsey Walsh in New Hampshire and Gabriella Abdul-Hakim in South Carolina. They share their insights from months of talking to voters and listening to candidates as they crisscrossed their states.