(The Center Square) – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds touted Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for how he handled the COVID-19 pandemic in her endorsement of him in Des Moines and didn’t shy away from calling out former president Donald Trump.
“When the Trump administration let Fauci lead their response, Ron had the courage to say ‘not in Florida,'” Reynolds said Monday evening, calling the Florida governor “One of the most effective leaders I have ever seen.”
Reynolds said the country needs someone who won’t get distracted.
“Ron is focused. He is principled. He is results-driven. And in short, what I love the most about Ron is he gets things done,” Reynolds said.
DeSantis is trailing behind former president Donald Trump in the Iowa polls, according to the Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom poll. Trump leads Republicans with 43%, followed by DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, tied at 16%.
The Center Square Voters’ Voice poll shows that DeSantis performs better than Trump in a match-up with President Joe Biden. Biden led Trump in the poll with 48% support among likely voters compared to Trump’s 44%. DeSantis received 47% support compared to Biden’s 44%.
Trump criticized Reynolds’ endorsement over the weekend, calling it the beginning of her “retirement tour.” The former president said on the social media site Truth Social that Reynolds said she would stay neutral.
“I told her that I should have ‘remained neutral’ when she asked me to help her get elected and that I didn’t want or need her to campaign me,” Trump said in the post.
Reynolds is the second governor to endorse DeSantis. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt announced his support for DeSantis in June.
“As a proven leader, DeSantis has boldly delivered results for the people of Florida that laid the groundwork for a booming economy, an education system focused on student outcomes, and better infrastructure for working families,” Stitt said. “To deliver these same results all across America and unwind the disastrous liberal mandates of the Biden administration is going to demand a candidate who can win and keep winning as a two-term president.”
