Death Knells are Ringing for Trump, his “Trumpian” party, and his desperate quest for safety inside the White House.
The Iowa Caucuses are over. The meager turnout barely passed the mirror test. 110,000 vs 187,000 in 2016. The weather was bad, but Iowans are used to snowy weather and low temperatures. In 2016, the challenge was frozen snow and icy sidewalks, but even people living in Assisted Living homes came in vanpools.
- The Political Base: Oh, OH! Trump has had four years to “cook up” the Republican “base,” and he barely got half of the attendees. It was a very low-turnout Caucus in a state that caters to its party base. Almost half the “diehard” base opposed him. In preparation for 2024, Trump generated the lowest turnout of Republicans attending the Iowa Caucuses in four decades.
- MAGAS chose the most extreme “mayhem” candidate. In 2016, Trump appeared not so extreme. This year, his violent rhetoric and statements about extremist groups may wear well with loyalists, just like they did on January 6th. Still, it will take more than loyalists to win the 2024 election.
- “Diehard” support for Trump? Not so much. True — there was lots of competition, snow, low temperatures, and football. None of that stopped the 110,000 diehards who showed up for the Caucuses on Monday night. Almost half of the “Diehards” opposed Trump!
- Weather? Iowans are good at snow and ice. Iowa isn’t one of those Southern places where snow stops all traffic. Remember 2016? There was plenty of ice and snow, and even Hillary’s retired women who lived in Assisted Living showed up at the Caucuses for Hillary. This year, Republicans’ low turnout problems are low-enthusiasm problems. When a former president can’t get even 10% of Republicans’ support, it’s time for him to drop out.
Let’s do the math: just over 5o% x 110,000 turnout = 55,000 Iowa Republicans who went for Trump in round numbers. Iowa has 733,333 registered Republicans.
RESULT: Trump earned support from fewer than 8% of Iowa Republicans. It’s time for Trump to go.
Donnelle Eller reports for The Des Moines Register: Iowa Caucuses drew 15% of the state’s registered Republicans. Why the lower turnout?
Chase Woodruff, Colorado Newsline: Extremism expert testifies on Trump’s ‘violent’ rhetoric in Colorado 14th Amendment trial