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[[Republican candidates are campaigning at the Iowa State Fair to court voters who will be the first in the nation to choose their preference for the party’s presidential nominee in next year’s election. VOA’s Kane Farabaugh has more from Iowa.
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/Script 2024 Presidential Campaign Iowa
HEADLINE: Republican Presidential Candidates Descend on Iowa State Fair
TEASER:
PUBLISHED AT: August 15th, 2023 at 8:45am
BYLINE: Kane Farabaugh
CONTRIBUTOR:
ASSIGNING EDITOR: Scott Stearns
DATELINE: Des Moines, Iowa
VIDEOGRAPHER: Kane Farabaugh
PRODUCER: Kane Farabaugh
SCRIPT EDITORS: DLJ, Reifenrath
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO __
TRT: 2:59
VID APPROVED BY: mia
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES: ))
((INTRO))
[[Republican candidates are campaigning at the Iowa State Fair to court voters who will be the first in the nation to choose their preference for the party’s presidential nominee in next year’s election. VOA’s Kane Farabaugh has more from Iowa.
((NARRATOR))
Over a million people visit the Iowa State Fair each year.
But Cedar Rapids resident Rick Stewart isn’t at this year’s event to see the life-size cow made of butter… he’s here to perform a civic duty.
((Rick Stewart, Iowa Voter))
“It’s a chance to see all the candidates for president. // I feel it’s a personal obligation as an Iowan to go and do my homework because the rest of the country is relying on us to caucus intelligently next January.”
((NARRATOR))
Incumbent President Joe Biden is the likely nominee for Democrats in the 2024 presidential election, and polling shows former President Donald Trump leads the Republican side.
((Celia Chriswell, Iowa Voter))
“I’ll be honest, I’m a Trump supporter, but I want to hear what the other people have to say.”
((NARRATOR))
Iowa Voter Celia Chriswell had a choice location in the front row at the Des Moines Register’s Political Soapbox stage, which gives candidates like Miami mayor Francis Suarez and businessman Perry Johnson — both significantly trailing Trump in polling — a chance to make their campaign pitches.
((Celia Chriswell, Iowa Voter))
“Maybe in 2028 some of these people would be good for the presidency. Maybe they’re good for vice president right now.”
((NARRATOR))
Trump has visited Iowa fewer times than others seeking the nomination, yet still enjoys strong support among Republican voters.
While most candidates appeared at the Soapbox or attended Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds’ “Fair Side” chats, Trump declined, preferring to visit the fair for a few hours on Saturday to walk among cheering crowds.
Terri Rumpf traveled from Indiana, specifically looking for an alternative to Trump.
((Terri Rumpf, Indiana Voter))
“If we get into the general, the comparisons with Biden with age is not a good thing. Plus, he’s got so much baggage. I don’t want all the riots in the streets for four more years.”
((NARRATOR))
Stewart, meanwhile, has doubts about Trump being able to defeat Biden.
((Rick Stewart, Iowa Voter))
“We want to win the general election. The best candidate who has the chance of doing that should be our nominee.”
FARABAUGH: “Is Trump that candidate?”
STEWART: “I do not believe he is.”
((NARRATOR))
University of Iowa political science Professor Tim Hagle says Stewart is not alone in his doubts.
(Tim Hagle, University of Iowa Political Science Professor))
“Quite frankly, that seems to be the attitude of a number of Republicans but not enough at this point to shift the momentum to some of the other candidates.”
((NARRATOR))
Hagle says doing well in Iowa’s caucus is critical for those hoping to overtake Trump for the nomination, like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
((Tim Hagle, University of Iowa Political Science Professor))
“DeSantis really has to do well in Iowa, at least a very strong second, for him to have any viability going forward. But for Trump, if he wins, and especially if he wins big in Iowa, probably this time around it would portend that he would get the nomination.”
Stewart says he’s not ready to settle on a candidate.
((Rick Stewart, Iowa Voter))
“I believe that every Republican candidate I’ve seen so far could beat Biden, and that would be good for me. But I’m not going to pick a favorite until I’ve seen them all.”
((NARRATOR))
Voters cast ballots in the Iowa caucus on January 15th.
(( Kane Farabaugh, VOA News, Des Moines, Iowa ))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
in Des Moines, Iowa
Embargo DateAugust 16, 2023 00:13 EDT
Byline
Kane Farabaugh, VOA News
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
