Trump Urges Iowans to vote despite health concerns

At a rally in Indianola, former US President and leading Republican presidential contender Donald Trump urged voters to participate in the Iowa caucuses despite potential health concerns, underscoring the significance of their vote.
“You can’t sit home. If you’re sick as a dog, you say, ‘Darling, I got to make it,’” Trump stated at the Indianola rally in Iowa. “Even if you vote and then pass away, it’s worth it, remember.”

Initially planning four live rallies across the state, Trump cancelled three due to a prolonged blizzard. Addressing a full auditorium at Simpson College, where supporters endured hours of waiting in wind chills dipping to the mid-negative 40s, Trump remarked, “The storm seems to have had no impact.
You are incredibly resilient; I’ve always heard that.”

Many in the crowd wore white and gold caps designating them as Trump caucus captains who will help garner support for him Monday night.
“These caucuses are your personal chance to score the ultimate victory over all of the liars, cheaters, thugs, perverts, frauds, crooks, freaks, creeps and other quite nice people,” Trump told the audience. “The Washington swamp has done everything in its power to take away your voice. But tomorrow is your time to turn on them and to say and speak your mind and to vote.”

Trump also criticized a New York judge for not allowing him to postpone his civil trial to attend his mother-in-law’s funeral, labelling the judge as “the worst judge in the country.”
The final Des Moines Register/ NBC News poll before Monday’s caucuses found Trump maintaining a formidable lead, supported by nearly half of likely caucusgoers, compared with 20% for Nikki Haley and 16% for Ron DeSantis. Haley and DeSantis remain locked in a close battle for second.

The icy weather in the Midwestern state has become a wild card in the crucial contest that could help seal former President Donald Trump’s bid to become the Republican nominee to face Democratic President Joe Biden in November’s general election.
Iowa Republican Party Chair Jeff Kaufmann said he was expecting strong turnout as long as there isn’t snowfall and icy road conditions that hinder travel.

“The temperatures are the least of my concerns in terms of depressing turnout,” Kaufmann said at a press roundtable hosted by Bloomberg News in Des Moines on Sunday. “Iowans know how to dress for that.”