West Des Moines, Iowa — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is in the midst of his first campaign swing through Iowa since kicking off his campaign for president last week.
DeSantis spoke at a West Des Moines church Tuesday night and he got several standing ovations from the crowd during his remarks.
DeSantis called on like-minded Americans to run for seats in Congress and join him in countering the elites in politics, corporate America, and education.
DeSantis did not specifically call for House Republicans to reject the federal debt deal, but he said it would not solve the nation’s fiscal problems.
DeSantis did not use the phrase “drain the swamp” as Donald Trump did during the 2016 campaign, but DeSantis said as president he would attack the “administrative state” in the executive branch.
DeSantis took questions from reporters after the event. He said it was ridiculous for Trump to say New York’s governor handled the pandemic better than he did in Florida.
Alan Daut of Altoona says DeSantis is the only Republican who can win in 2024.
A few people in the crowd cited the Florida governor’s age as they talked about DeSantis. He’s 32 years younger than Trump. Matt Stewart of Altoona put it this way.
Lee Thornburgh of West Des Moines likes DeSantis but isn’t ready to say he’ll Caucus for DeSantis.
DeSantis will campaign in Sioux City, Council Bluffs, Pella, and Cedar Rapids today (Wednesday).
