Donald Trump wins Iowa Republican primary | US Elections 2024 | Republican Party | Ron De Santis | Nikki Haley | Joe Biden | United States | Latest | WORLD

Donald Trump has established himself as the big favorite of the Republicans for the November presidential elections in the United States by winning this Monday against his rivals Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis in the primaries of the state of Iowa, amid heavy snow, according to projections published in American press.

Just half an hour after the start of voting, CNN and CBS had predicted a result favorable to Trump, without knowing how much.

WATCH HERE: The Republican primaries begin in Iowa, the first step towards the American presidential elections.

Iowa carries great weight in the campaign because if Trump does not achieve the victory he expected, his image as the undisputed favorite could be undermined for the rest of the race.

At 7 pm (0100 GMT Tuesday), voters began gathering in schools, libraries and fire stations across this Midwestern state for the famous “caucuses,” or voter assemblies.

After a prayer and the traditional pledge of allegiance to the American flag, representatives of the candidates gave a speech and then participants wrote their choice on a sheet of paper.

For the first time since leaving power, Trump, who faces four criminal cases ranging from stealing secret documents to trying to alter the results of the 2020 election, found himself faced with the voters’ verdict.

The former president (2017-2021), 77, enjoys a surprising lead over his rivals in the polls, equal to almost 50% of voting intentions.

That makes him the heavy favorite to challenge Democratic President Joe Biden in November’s presidential election.

“I think we’re going to have a great night,” Trump said in a video posted on social media. The tycoon has an army of volunteers who have been traveling to all corners of Iowa for months to mobilize voters.

READ MORE: Judge orders Trump to pay nearly $400,000 to New York Times and three journalists

Second place

The question is: who will take second place? Can one of Trump’s rivals reduce some of his huge lead and position themselves well for the future?

Five candidates are competing to block his path to the White House, but only two still seem to have any chance.

One is the former ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, the only woman in the running and highly regarded in business circles.

The other is Ron DeSantis, a conservative with very tough positions on immigration or abortion who has bet everything on Iowa.

“I ask you to come out, brave the cold and support me during the Iowa caucuses,” DeSantis told supporters Monday morning.

Adding to the uncertainty, Iowa is covered in a thick blanket of snow and the thermometer is near -30 degrees Celsius, which may have reduced participation.

Iowa leads

Starting next week, the primary calendar will bring candidates, including biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, to New Hampshire. They will continue in other states until June.

In July the Republican presidential candidate will be officially nominated during the national convention.

Donald Trump wants to eliminate the competition before his trials begin, some of which expose him to prison sentences.

SEE ALSO: Trump on the last day of his trial for fraud: “There isn’t a single witness, it’s a witch hunt”

The Republican will experience an unusual year in every sense, with a coming and going in the courts.

Meanwhile, the Democrats are also holding primaries but without too many mysteries.

Barring any last-minute surprises, octogenarian President Joe Biden, who already enjoys strong support from his party, will be nominated as the Democratic nominee in August despite criticism over his advanced age.

2024-01-16 02:58:27
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