Strong conservatives, older voters, and MAGA fans piled in
, 2020 election deniers and less-educated Iowa Republicans helped Donald Trump win the Iowa GOP caucuses on Monday night amid bitterly cold weather and low public turnout, according to an analysis of exit poll results.
The former president — despite spending relatively little time in the state, despite earlier indications that the base was considering other options and despite leading challengers, who spent months campaigning against him — achieved the largest margin of victory by any margin in any contested state of Iowa. on it purposefully. The Republican caucuses date back to their beginning in 1976.
Trump’s support was so strong that 63% of caucus participants said they considered him fit for office even if he were hypothetically convicted of a crime. He faces charges in four cases, but denies any wrongdoing.
So much so that 63% of party conference participants said they considered him suitable for the position even if he were hypothetically convicted of a crime. He faces charges in four cases, but denies any wrongdoing.
By 63-32%, approval poll respondents said they considered him fit for office despite his conviction, with 72% of the group saying he was also fit to vote for Trump.
However, even with his landslide victory, some weaknesses were evident for Trump.
Some weaknesses were evident for Trump. Voters check in at a rally site at Horizon Events Center, on January 15, 2024, in Clive, Iowa.
The Iowa state approval poll was analyzed for ABC News by
Which was analyzed for ABC News by Langer Research Associates, found comparative shortfalls for the former president among younger, college-educated, moderate and independent voters.
Trump easily won the 45-and-older caucus, with 56% support (and turnout in Iowa was much larger than usual). But it was much closer among those under 45, including 34% who supported Trump, with Ron DeSantis in second place at 29%.
It was easily among the 45-and-older caucus, with 56% support (and turnout in Iowa was much larger than usual). But it was much closer among those under 45, including 34% who supported Trump, With Ron DeSantis taking second place with 29%.
Trump performed much better among less educated voters, winning 67% of those without a college degree versus 37% among four-year college graduates.
It won 67% of those without a college degree compared to 37% among four-year college graduates.
Nikki Haley, the projected third-place finisher, won 63% of moderate voters to Trump’s 20%, even though moderates represent only 9% of voters in Iowa.
, the expected third place, with 63% of moderate voters compared to 20% for Trump, even though moderates represent only 9% of voters in Iowa.
Trump saw his 54% support among Republicans drop to 42% of independents compared to 34% for Haley in that group, which was 16% of voters in Iowa on Monday.
However, Trump’s performance in the state was dramatically different from his narrow second-place finish in the last closely contested GOP caucuses, won by Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in 2016. Trump then lagged among ultra-conservative voters, evangelicals and those Who are looking for a boss. A candidate who “shares my values.” He did not see such obstacles this year.
About finishing a close second in the last of the closely contested Republican caucuses, won by Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in 2016. Trump then lagged among ultra-conservative voters, evangelicals and those looking for a president. A candidate who “shares my values.” He saw no such obstacles this year.
Instead, 46% of voters identified themselves as part of the “MAGA movement” started by Trump, and Trump received 78% support in this group.
66% echoed Trump’s false claims that Joe Biden did not legitimately win the presidency in 2020. Of those who said that, 69% supported Trump.
And 32% focused primarily on the candidate who “fights for people like me” — a tested second-place trait that Trump ran with, with 82% support among those who chose it.
