Republicans in the U.S. Senate are overwhelmingly confident that former President Donald Trump will secure a resounding victory in the Iowa caucuses, paving the way for his anticipated GOP nomination for the 2024 presidential race. Even Senator Mitt Romney, who has clashed with Trump in the past, acknowledges Trump’s imminent success in Iowa.
“I think Trump will win by a substantial margin,” affirmed Romney, as reported by The Hill. He went on to suggest that former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley is likely to secure the second-place position in Iowa and has a promising chance in New Hampshire. However, he believes there is a slim possibility of her ultimately becoming the nominee. Romney emphasized that Trump currently holds a commanding position within the party.
Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa expressed her expectation that Trump will secure victory in The Hawkeye State, adding, “We’ll see the margin. I guess I am assuming that President Trump wins, but it could be any one of these fantastic candidates.” She mentioned that her decision on whom to support during the caucuses is a private one and did not rule out endorsing Trump if he secures the nomination.
An NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll conducted on Sunday affirmed Trump’s substantial lead in Iowa, with a nearly 30-point advantage. The same poll indicated that Nikki Haley narrowly edged out Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for second place, though the difference was within the poll’s margin of error.
Nineteen GOP senators, including Senate Republican Conference Chair John Barrasso, have officially endorsed Trump, while none have endorsed Nikki Haley. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida recently announced his endorsement of Trump, solidifying the former president’s support among Republican senators. Meanwhile, DeSantis is receiving limited attention and support within the party.
Following the Iowa caucuses, the political spotlight will shift to the New Hampshire primary on January 23, followed by the Nevada caucuses on February 8, and the South Carolina primary on February 24.
Senator Kevin Cramer, who has endorsed Trump, believes that even if Haley manages to win in New Hampshire, she may struggle to maintain her momentum and is likely to lose her home state of South Carolina. Recent polling in South Carolina shows Trump leading Haley by a substantial 29-point margin, indicating a significant advantage for the former president.
Senator Lindsey Graham, another Trump supporter, noted that if Trump’s victory margin in South Carolina surpasses 13 points, it would be a historic accomplishment, potentially the largest margin of victory in the history of the caucus.
