As Sun Tzu said, “Every battle is won before it is fought,” and governor Ron DeSantis of Florida may appreciate this wisdom more than most.
Heading into the 2020 election, DeSantis’s reelection bid was thought to be a done deal. After his meteoric rise to power, fueled by his urgent response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the governor enjoyed approval ratings in the stratosphere. Fast-forward a few months, and DeSantis is facing possibly the most uncertain reelection campaign of any sitting governor in the nation.
What happened? To put it simply, DeSantis’s fortunes seem to have taken a downward turn.
The governor has been criticized for his handling of the pandemic and for signing a host of controversial legislation, including a strict new voting law. This barrage of bad press is now playing out in the polls, with support for the governor waning.
Now, more than ever, DeSantis is betting heavily on the state of Iowa to help rescue his fortunes and ease his reelection woes.
DeSantis recently traveled to Iowa to campaign on behalf of President Donald Trump. During his trip, the governor touted the president’s economic record and praised the Republican Party platform. The governor also attended a GOP dinner in Des Moines to stump for Trump, as well as attended a rally for Republican Senator Joni Ernst.
For DeSantis, Iowa could be a crucial factor in his reelection bid. The state is a bellwether for American presidential politics; it generally votes for the party that will win the White House. This makes Iowa the kind of state politicians like DeSantis can turn to for a much-needed boost of positive energy when their own elections heat up.
That has been especially true this year. With polls showing his approval ratings in Florida slipping, the governor is hoping that his efforts in Iowa will help tamp down the negative press and reignite his support at home.
It remains to be seen whether DeSantis’s message will resonate with Iowa’s electorate. But one thing is certain: the governor is hoping that throwing himself into the fray in Iowa will be enough to right the ship before the election rolls around in November.
