Iowa evangelical leader Bob Vander Plaats has endorsed Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida for the Republican presidential nomination, marking the second major endorsement that DeSantis has received in the state this month. Vander Plaats highlighted DeSantis’ ability to win elections, citing his success in turning Florida into a solid red state and Governor Kim Reynolds’ support for DeSantis. However, DeSantis is trailing behind former President Donald Trump in both Iowa and national polls, needing to make up a significant gap to win the nomination.
Vander Plaats, known for his influence among Iowa evangelicals, has a track record of endorsing the last three Republicans who won contested Iowa caucuses. However, it remains uncertain whether his support will be enough to propel DeSantis to victory, especially given Trump’s strong position in the polls. As of Tuesday, DeSantis is more than 25 points behind Trump in the FiveThirtyEight average of Iowa surveys, with a tight race for second place with Nikki Haley. Despite Vander Plaats’ support, DeSantis faces an uphill battle in securing the Republican nomination in light of Trump’s significant lead.
The endorsement also brought attention to Vander Plaats’ divisive statements in the past, including his organization’s encouragement of Republican candidates to sign a pledge that made controversial comparisons between slavery and African-American families post-President Obama’s election. These remarks have drawn criticism from the Democratic National Committee, who highlighted recent reports about the pledge. It is clear that DeSantis’ quest for the Republican nomination in the 2024 presidential election faces challenges, despite receiving high-profile support from influential Iowa figures.