Aviva Fried with AFP / Photo credits: Jim WATSON / AFP
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11:12 a.m., January 15, 2024
The Republican primaries begin under the worst auspices. In the state of Iowa, where voters are expected to travel, a cold wave from the North Pole threatens the smooth running of the vote. Donald Trump calls on his supporters to travel despite the conditions, but his rivals could well take advantage of the snow to reduce the gap with the ex-president.
Will Donald Trump knock out all his rivals in the first round? Will Nikki Haley or Ron DeSantis create a surprise, helped by terrible weather? Iowa launches the big ball of the Republican primaries on Monday. For the first time since he left power, the former American president, four times criminally charged, faces the judgment of voters. But, if Donald Trump enjoys a very comfortable lead over these adversaries, with almost 50% voting intention, one detail worries the Republicans: the weather.
“You can’t stay at home”
Because an arctic front plunged Iowa into polar cold. Along the icy roads, the snow accumulates so high that the signs supporting the candidates have disappeared. The fear is that these extreme conditions, some of the worst ever seen in the state, will discourage voters from traveling. Outside, the thermometer is close to -40 degrees, encouraging residents to limit their movements.
“You can’t stay at home, go vote even if you’re sick as a dog and die afterwards, it’s worth it. If you’re very sick, get up!” chanted Donald Trump this Sunday evening during a meeting, to mobilize his troops despite the weather conditions.
Avoid failure
Second place should be between Ron DeSantis, the very robotic governor of Florida, and Nikki Haley, former governor of South Carolina with old-school conservatism. A second place would allow them to give a boost to their campaign for the rest of the primaries. This is vital for Ron DeSantis, whose candidacy has collapsed over the months. A failure in the state at the start of the primaries could be the final blow for the latter.