Trump Encourages Attendance, Advises "Dress Warmly"
As the Iowa caucus, the first presidential primary stage for the U.S. Republican Party, approaches, an extreme cold wave is sweeping through. With biting winds causing the wind chill to drop to around minus 40 degrees Celsius, the caucus is expected to be held amid the worst cold snap in history. Former President Donald Trump, who is leading in the polls, is encouraging his supporters to "dress warmly" to solidify his so-called momentum.
According to the U.S. National Weather Service on the 14th (local time), the lowest temperature in Iowa on the day after the caucus is expected to fall to minus 27 degrees Celsius. With strong winds accompanying, the wind chill is predicted to reach between minus 35 and 45 degrees Celsius. This is the lowest temperature since the Iowa caucus became the first Republican presidential primary. In some areas, more than 25 cm of snow has already fallen, paralyzing road networks, and wind chill warnings have been issued statewide. The Trump campaign had planned four rallies over the weekend but canceled three of them due to the severe cold.
In particular, the Iowa caucus requires party members to arrive at their precincts by 7 p.m. on the day, listen to speeches from supporters representing each candidate, and remain until voting is completed. Since voting takes a considerable amount of time, there are many predictions that the unprecedented cold will be a significant variable.
Bob Lacy, who has consistently attended the Iowa caucus, told The Washington Post (WP), "I am 75 years old. I do not want to go outside that night." WP reported, "Compared to caucuses in other states, the number of voters participating in the Iowa caucus is much smaller," adding, "Snow and subzero temperatures could further reduce voter turnout." Politico expressed concern, saying, "Although the snow has stopped, the wind chill across Iowa is below minus 40 degrees Celsius," and warned, "Frostbite can occur within 10 minutes, and prolonged exposure can cause hypothermia."
Local media have assessed that this cold wave will serve as a test of supporters' dedication to the candidates. Former President Trump expressed confidence, saying, "Even in today's news, they say my supporters have stronger spirit and dedication." However, since a significant portion of Trump's supporters are elderly white voters, there is also the possibility that this could be a variable on the day. He seemed to share this concern as well, sending a text message to his supporters urging them, "Don't forget to dress very warmly." If Trump, currently in first place, performs unimpressively in this Iowa caucus, his path to securing the presidential nomination could become more difficult.
The recent cold snap is also a negative factor for Nikki Haley, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, who has been gaining support mainly among moderates. Haley, campaigning on the day, appealed for votes, saying, "Think about the fact that at this moment, we can make history," adding, "I'm not talking about the history of a female president being born. I'm talking about the history of setting America's ship right." Local media analyzed that the best-case scenario for Haley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis at this point is to finish second in the Iowa caucus and then take the lead in New Hampshire. According to a joint poll released the previous day by the Des Moines Register, NBC, and MediaCom, former President Trump led with 48% support, far ahead of Haley at 20% and Governor DeSantis at 16%.
Larry Hogan, former Governor of Maryland, who has been called the "Korean son-in-law," appeared on CNN that day and officially endorsed Haley but predicted Trump's victory in the Iowa caucus. However, he said, "I don't think it is that important because no candidate who has won the Iowa caucus in the past 24 years has become the Republican nominee," adding, "The important thing is the fight for second place." He mentioned that Haley is far ahead of Trump in hypothetical head-to-head matchups against President Joe Biden and emphasized, "Now is the time for the Republican Party to support Haley."
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