Des Moines, Iowa — Eight Republican presidential hopefuls spoke to about 900 likely Iowa Caucus goers this weekend.
Iowa Senator Joni Ernst hosted the event. It started with a convoy of motorcycles riding from a Harley-Davidson dealership to the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Former Vice President Mike Pence gave a preview of the campaign he intends to launch this week in Iowa. Pence mentioned the role Iowa’s first in the nation Caucuses play in determining who will be the GOP’s nominee.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis says he’s not making idle promises on the campaign trail that he’d forget as president.
South Carolina Senator Tim Scott announced at the event that he’ll be on “The View” today (Monday) after a co-host of the show said he doesn’t understand systemic racism because he’s a Republican.
Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley indirectly criticized the debt ceiling deal Iowa’s Republican congressional delegation supported.
Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, businessmen Vivek Ramaswamy and Perry Johnson, and former radio show host Larry Elder also spoke at the event. Former President Donald Trump was invited but chose not to attend. Ernst says Trump has a strong base of support in the state.
Ernst was asked if she’d consider an invitation to serve in a Republican president’s administration or the party’s vice presidential nomination.
Trump considered Ernst as a running mate in 2016, but Ernst said at the time she had a lot more to do in the U.S. Senate. In July 2016, Ernst was in the middle of year two of her first six-year term.
