(FeaturedHeadlines.com) – On January 15th, in Monday’s Republican caucuses in Iowa, former President Donald Trump secured a resounding victory in 98 out of 99 counties. The sole exception was Johnson County, where former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley edged past Trump by a single vote, garnering 1,271 votes to Trump’s 1,270, making it a closely contested battleground.
Despite finishing third statewide behind Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Haley seized on her performance as a testament to the momentum she believes her campaign is gaining, particularly when considering polling numbers in upcoming primary states. In a bold assertion, she stated the events in Iowa have turned the Republican primary into a “two-person race.”
DeSantis, who invested significant time and resources in Iowa, outperformed some polling expectations. He finished at approximately 21%, exceeding the Real Clear Politics average of polls that projected him at 15.7% before votes were cast.
The pre-caucus AP-NORC survey highlighted Trump’s enduring popularity among Iowa Republicans, with 88% expressing a desire for “total upheaval” or “substantial change” in how the U.S. is run. Immigration emerged as the top concern for 40% of GOP voters, surpassing the economy or jobs. A significant 71% of GOP voters strongly supported building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, a key promise from Trump’s previous campaigns.
Trump garnered strong support in small towns and rural areas, home to most Republican caucus-goers. He found backing from almost half of GOP attendees, including white evangelical Christians and those without a college degree.
Looking ahead, Trump maintains substantial leads in the polls in New Hampshire and South Carolina, with a 14-point lead in the former and a commanding 30-point lead in the latter, according to the Real Clear Politics average of polls.
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