DeSanctimonious v. DeLoser

The two big bulls in the Iowa Caucus Republican presidential rodeo, former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, are kicking up enough dust that it’s hard to see the others.

Trump blew into Davenport along the Mississippi River on Monday, DeSantis was there last Friday. As DeSantis spoke, Trump opened fire on social media calling him “DeSanctimonious” and noting that as a congressman the Floridian dissed corn ethanol — the third rail of Iowa politics.

Ted Cruz of Texas was no fan of corn hooch, either, but managed to barely edge Trump in Iowa in the 2016 caucuses. Note that Cruz is not jumping into the ring this time after the sliming he took from Trump last time around — even his wife was in Trump’s sights.

Trump also nipped at DeSantis for toying with the idea of Social Security reform back in the day with former House Speaker Paul Ryan, which also is sacrosanct in this state so long of tooth. Trump is just warming up. In Davenport, he referred to DeSantis as “DeSanctus.”

“Maybe I shouldn’t mention this part. But we have to!” Trump told the crowd before ripping into DeSantis. “He was very, very bad on ethanol and fought it all the way. And he also fought against Social Security.

“I will protect the ethanol and I will go after anyone who wishes to destroy it.”

DeSantis did not talk about Trump during his chatty visit with Gov. Kim Reynolds a few days previous, where he claimed culture wars win elections. Both he and Reynolds won re-election easily on essentially the same platform — she is about to sign into law a ban on transgender therapy for juveniles, and there won’t be any “divisive” teaching about Black or Native history (is it divisive to say that the Europeans stole Iowa from the Ioway Tribe?).

Iowans tired of the Trump schtick have an ear for a new line. A Des Moines Register-Mediacom Iowa Poll found DeSantis with 74% approval among Iowa Republican voters, with Trump at 80%. Although Trump has slid from 90% approval in 2021, he is not exactly walking wounded. 

DeSantis starts out in a strong position. Most national polls show all other candidates registering in the single digits. Former Vice President Mike Pence finally decided last weekend to see how laying the blame for the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at Trump’s feet might juice his prospects. Pence should ask former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming, how that worked out for her in a primary. Nikki Haley of South Carolina came through Iowa last week and barely got noticed. Tim Scott? Mike Pompeo? Hello, anyone want a piece of this action?

Trump is not a lock. He always teeters on the edge of indictment. But 47% of Republicans told the Iowa Poll that they “definitely” will vote for him and another 27% say they “probably” will.

It’s not a lock, but it’s a pretty good grip on the state.

Eric Branstad, son of former Republican Gov. Terry Branstad who is tied in deeply with the ethanol industry, is Trump’s senior advisor alongside Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, son of state GOP Chair Jeff Kaufmann. The Branstads are nothing if not astute about Tall Corn State politics, and their network is inestimable. There is just no doubt that Iowa Republicans love Trump.

“And I love them,” Trump said Monday.

DeSantis, not so much.

But there is this: DeSantis has not lost. The Navy veteran who served in Iraq does not appear to have a glass jaw. He has refrained from enjoining Trump’s taunts. If he wanted to come up with a nickname for Trump, it might be “Loser.” 

He lost to Joe Biden. A lot of people believe Trump lost the midterms for the Republican Party (although Iowa went deep red in November). Trump placed the blame squarely on Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky while he was in the hospital suffering from a concussion — Trump doesn’t mind kicking a guy when he’s down. DeSantis ain’t seen nothin’ yet. 

Still, the fact that Trump lost eats at Republicans down deep every time President Biden comes on the TV. They would like to deny it but how can they anymore? Trump lost, and he could lose again. You can wear a tee-shirt that says “Trump Won” but Biden is still on the TV talking. DeSantis clearly has appeal in Iowa, but you have to remember how low Trump will go. He will be relentless. It has to be among Joe Biden’s fondest hopes.

Art Cullen is the editor of the Storm Lake Times Pilot in Northwest Iowa, where this column appeared. For more columns and editorials, please consider a subscription to the Times Pilot. Or, if you wish, you can make a tax-deductible gift to the Western Iowa Journalism Foundation to support independent community journalism in rural Iowa. Thanks.

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