After Trump’s attacks on Iowa’s popular Republican governor, Kim Reynolds, a state senator who had backed Trump is now backing Ron DeSantis.
On Thursday, state Senator Jeff Reichman announced that he was defecting to the presidential campaign of Florida Governor Rick Scott. Reichman singled out Reynolds in a statement, praising her for her welcoming attitude towards Trump’s primary opponent, DeSantis.
Taking back the country and undoing Joe Biden’s failings requires Republicans to work together, Reichman said in a statement, and that requires unity in Iowa. “Gov. DeSantis has achieved the same type of commonsense policy victories in Florida as we have in Iowa under Gov. Kim Reynolds, and he will deliver historic success for the conservative movement as president as well,” said Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds.
On Monday, Trump lashed out at Reynolds after a New York Times article detailed her repeated campaign appearances for DeSantis. Trump responded by issuing a statement in which he claimed that Reynolds, who has said she will not endorse anyone in the primary, would not be governor if it weren’t for him because he appointed her predecessor, Terry Branstad, to his cabinet. Trump also mentioned his support for Reynolds from the past.
Now she wants to be ‘NEUTRAL,’ Trump stated. As in, “I don’t invite her to events!”
In response to Reichman’s defection, Trump campaign spokeswoman Steven Cheung said, “There is no room for weak-kneed and lily-livered people on Team Trump.” The state senator was accused of being bought off by the DeSantis campaign, which had offered to finance for and endorse him.
No one has been able to plan fundraisers with DeSantis, so those who have been promised financial help are “regretting their deal with the devil,” Cheung said.
According to a source with knowledge of the situation, DeSantis is planning to collect money for Iowa Republicans who have endorsed him, such as Reichman.
DeSantis spokesman Andrew Romeo responded to the Trump campaign’s claim by saying the former president is “losing steam in Iowa and his failing campaign is now lashing out at former supporters.” Sad!”
Some Iowa Republicans have also criticised Trump for skipping this week’s Family Leadership Summit in the state, in addition to his attacks on Reynolds. DeSantis isn’t the only Republican presidential candidate attending the event.
Even though he plans to campaign in Iowa next week, Trump skipped a recent political event held by Sen. Joni Ernst. Later this month, the former president is scheduled to speak at a GOP banquet in Iowa.
With Reichman’s vote of confidence, DeSantis has won the backing of 38 of Iowa’s state representatives.