NBC News entrance poll: Iowa GOP caucusgoers drawn to candidate who shares their values
A plurality of Iowa Republican caucusgoers said the quality that mattered most to them was that a candidate shared their values, according to early NBC News entrance poll results.
Out of four possible answers, 40% said shared values was the quality that mattered most, while 34% said a candidate who fights for people like them. Another 12% said a candidate with the right temperament mattered most, and 11% said they wanted someone who can defeat President Joe Biden in November.
Telling that only 11% of Iowa Republican caucusgoers feel that being able to defeat Biden is what mattered most in deciding who to support. So much of the message against Trump from DeSantis and Haley was framed around him not being able to beat Biden. And Trump has led them in surveys of the state by double-digits for months.
Trump departs hotel for caucus, teases possible trial appearance
Trump has just departed the Hotel Fort Des Moines for an appearance at a caucus site.
When asked about the possibility that he would speak tomorrow in E. Jean Carroll's defamation case against him in New York, he said "You’re gonna see."
Here’s where the GOP candidates focused their time and energy in Iowa
Republican presidential candidates have crisscrossed Iowa leading up to Monday’s caucuses — but they’ve focused their time and energy on different parts of the state.
Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley has spent the bulk of her time in Des Moines and the cities in eastern Iowa. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has made a number of stops in the same areas but also spent more time in Republican-heavy northwest Iowa. Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy has been everywhere, and he’s been there a lot.
And then there’s former President Donald Trump, who has had by far the lightest in-person footprint across Iowa before the caucuses, as he maintains a strong lead in public polls.
Iowans gathering for caucus voting preview their GOP pick
Iowans have begun gathering for caucuses.
Caucuses kick off across Iowa
Iowans began caucusing at 7 p.m. CT, launching the race for the Republican presidential nominee.
Caucusgoers will hear speeches from supporters of presidential candidates, and then cast their ballots. Precincts will report their results to the Iowa Republican Party.
NBC News entrance poll: Immigration, economy rank as the most important issues to Iowa Republican caucusgoers
Iowa Republican caucusgoers tonight rank immigration as the most important issue facing the country, followed closely by the economy, early NBC News entrance poll results show.
The entrance poll found that 37% of caucus participants said immigration is the most important issue, while 36% chose the economy.
A plurality (44%) of Trump supporters said that immigration is the most important issue facing the nation. Another 38% of Trump supporters said the economy is the most important issue, followed by foreign policy (8%) and abortion (4%).
Haley supporters ranked the economy (28%), foreign policy (27%) and immigration (26%) as the most important issues, followed by abortion (19%).
NBC visits Iowa ‘supercaucus’ site
Potential Trump supporter says she is skipping caucus because of wintery road conditions
Joyce Krebs, a Republican voter in Webster County tells NBC News that she will not be heading to the caucus tonight because of the slick road conditions. “[The snow has] been drifting again this afternoon,” Krebs said. “I would love to and would have enjoyed it. It’s just not a good idea.”
Disappointed, Krebs said that she would have caucused for Trump tonight. She said that in 2016 she did take part in the caucus and backed Ted Cruz.
This brings up a major question: Could Trump’s support in the rural areas be uniquely impacted by the conditions of the roads?
Trump expected to visit a caucus site in Des Moines area
The former president is expected to visit a caucus site tonight in the “greater Des Moines metro area,” according to a source familiar with Trump's activities today.
Trump had a 'laid back' day, spent mostly at his hotel ahead of caucuses
Trump spent today almost entirely inside his Des Moines hotel — leaving only for lunch at the famed 801 Chophouse — and working the phones to reach Iowans via a tele-rally, direct calls to a small group of caucus captains and local and national radio interviews, according to two campaign sources.
The former president thanked five caucus captains for their work and urged them to be on the lookout for misinformation about the caucus, including false claims about sites being closed or times changed, according to a source familiar with the calls. Trump has issued similar warnings on Truth Social today.
The same source said the vibe was "laid back" for most of the day.