Temperature for DES MOINES, Iowa Iowa, which is number one in the nation According to the National Weather Service, Monday’s caucuses will be the coldest in the contest’s modern history, with a high near 0 degrees in Des Moines forecast.
But the Republican presidential candidates are not worried, and they say unequivocally that they think their supporters have a unique motivation to turn out and vote on the night of January 15th. And state party leaders don’t think the cold weather will affect voter turnout either.
Iowa Republican Party Chairman Jeff Kaufmann said this week that given the severe weather, he doesn’t think the cold temperatures alone will keep many caucus attendees away.
“I don’t think the cold is keeping people away unless it’s a severe ice storm,” Kaufmann said, adding, “It’s one of those things like a football game, it’s never going to last. Whatever happens.”
While Kaufmann still thinks turnout will be strong, he admits he won’t break records this year. Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration show that daytime temperatures in the caucus have not dropped this low in half a century.
“The weather could prevent a record turnout,” he said, making it fair “Great turnout. But you know that it remains to be seen.”
The weather forced candidates to cancel many campaign stops ahead of the Iowa caucuses in recent days, including surrogate events intended to support former President Donald Trump. former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, now of Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and former US Attorney General Matt Whitaker. Trump also arrived more than three hours late to Saturday’s rally in Clinton due to a winter storm, but the former president believes nothing will deter his supporters.
“You just have to put on those warm clothes and get out there,” Trump said at a rally in Newton on Saturday. “I told one of our guys that, and they said, ‘Oh, that’s good news.’ I said, why is it good? Because their people do not want to vote, and my people will walk on glass.”
Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley canceled a campaign stop in Sioux City on Monday because of the snow, but her campaign spokeswoman said. He’s not worried that the weather will prevent supporters from showing up on caucus night.
“Voters in the Hawkeye State are used to the cold, and that won’t stop them from making noise for Nikki,” a Haley spokeswoman said. Olivia Perez-Cubas said.
businessman Vivek Ramaswamy attacked Haley for canceling the event, writing on X, “If you can’t handle the snow, you can’t handle Xi Jinping.” Then he canceled three of his own campaign stops on Tuesday due to bad weather.
Ramaswamy, Like Trump, he said Monday he thinks the freezing temperatures might actually help his performance on caucus night.
“Look, what do we know? When a person is cold, it comes out a little less. I think it will work in our favor,” Ramaswamy said after the event in Sioux City. “Most of my fans are not neat fans. The people who support me support me because they believe in the vision I propose for this country.”
On Tuesday, Ramaswamy again acknowledged the forecast for next week, but said it shouldn’t stop his base.
“It will be cold that night. But you know, George Washington didn’t complain that it was too cold when he crossed the Delaware River. I do not say this lightly,” said Ramaswamy.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis also said he believes his supporters will caucus for him no matter what, as long as it’s safe.
“I think our supporters are there, I think they’re very passionate people, and I think they’re going to come out, and so whatever the weather is, we’re going to be in good shape,” DeSantis said at a virtual news conference Monday as he prepared to deliver his state of the state address in Florida. “But if it’s really cold, I think we’ve got supporters who will expect it and brave the elements.”
Kush Desai, communications director for the Iowa Republican Party, noted that Iowans are used to severe weather and have turned out to vote on previous caucus dates in less-than-ideal conditions.
“We held group meetings through rain, snow, all kinds of weather,” Desai said. “In the same way, Iowans will still be able to go to work or school or go grocery shopping or whatever, it’s not something we’re too concerned about.”
Marc Korver, a 39-year-old casino security guard from Washington, Iowa, said being a Midwestern football fan prepared him to brave the cold.
“I know how to work in cold weather and how to dress,” Korver said, noting that he’s close enough to his couscous to walk if needed.
Bob Klaus, 76, of Cedar Rapids, also doesn’t expect the low temperatures to keep visitors indoors.
“Iowans are tough enough because they’re used to winter, and they’re determined enough to save this country from what’s happening right now,” Klaus said. “I don’t think that will be a factor. In fact, it might give the rest of the country more incentive to prove that we’re Iowa tough — not just Iowa cool, but Iowa tough.