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- Donald Trump is projected to have won the Iowa caucuses.
- The former president is now expected to win the state in a blowout.
- His expected victory illustrates the stranglehold Trump has on the party.
Former President Donald Trump is projected to have won the Iowa caucuses, kicking off his quest to return to the White House with a resounding victory in the first state to vote in 2024.
With more than 95% of the expected vote in, Trump holds a nearly 30-point lead over Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, the far-distant second place finisher. The former president's showing is easily the most dominate is modern memory.
Basking in his victory that news networks projected so quickly that some Iowans were will caucusing, Trump called for the nation to come together, projecting an air of inevitability to becoming the Republican presidential nominee.
"I want to congratulate Ron and Nikki for having a good time together, we're all having a good time together," Trump told his supporters at his victory rally. "I think they both did very well."
Trump's victory is all the more remarkable considering how he barely campaigned in the state. Of all the hopefuls, DeSantis arguably ran the most conventional caucus campaign. He visited all of the state's 99 counties, known as a full Grassley, and collected an array of endorsements, including Gov. Kim Reynolds'. Traditionally, this devotion to the slog of campaigning is often rewarded by Iowans who prize their place in the presidential calendar. Many of the 99 counties are rural, making it difficult for a candidate to fly into a nearby airport and hold an event.
In contrast, Trump barely moved around the state. According to journalist Ben Jacobs, the former president had barely visited 20 counties by caucus night. Compared to his rivals, Trump has kept a much lighter campaign schedule. And yet, the former president is well-positioned to reclaim the GOP presidential nomination.
Iowa hasn't always been kind to Trump. Almost eight years ago, he was bestowed the one label he might loathe more than any other: loser. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz sprang from low digits early in Iowa to narrowly win the caucuses on the back of an impressive organization. But Cruz's moment was short-lived. Trump blew out the field in New Hampshire, reasserting his frontrunner status and eventually closing Cruz out.
Haley's focus will now turn to New Hampshire. She has polled much better in the Granite State, where she won Gov. Chris Sununu's endorsement. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie recently dropped out of the race, leaving his supporters up for grabs too. It still might not be enough.
Trump now has a path to close off the nomination in advance of Super Tuesday. He may do so while keeping a light campaign schedule. Just days before the caucuses, the former president voluntarily appeared at his New York fraud trial. In any other cycle, it would be unheard of for a hopeful to take such a break from the campaign trail.
He's not worrying though. It's his primary foes that are struggling to keep up. And they are running out of time.
It makes sense then that Trump, according to multiple reports, will delay campaigning in New Hampshire on Tuesday. First, he will appear in a New York court where he's facing a second defamation trial related to his comments about E. Jean Carroll.