These Iowa GOP women don’t know who will get their vote — just not Trump
14 December 2023
Former President Donald Trump has long enjoyed support from Iowans, but support for his 2024 campaign is starting to wane for some Republicans.
CNN recently spoke with Iowa GOPers who have backed Trump in the past. Several voters — who are all women — voiced their eagerness to move on from the MAGA hopeful.
The news outlet reports, " Trump's support is deep here, especially in rural counties such as Ringgold where the Ebersoles own and rent land to graze their cows. But if there is to be an Iowa surprise, the changes we saw over the past five months suggest it's Republican women who will power it."
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Referring to the former president, Shanen Ebersole told CNN, "I love what he did for small business. I love what he did for agriculture. I wish he could have done it a bit quieter. Because he wasn't as respectful as I think our president should be. Because he didn’t bring us together. Because of the divisiveness. Because of my liberal friends that were literally scared for their safety.”
She emphasized, "I want everyone to be able to do what they want to do safely and not have it affect the next person. I have so many liberal friends who were divided and who were scared by some policies that were put into place, or the inflammatory statements that people have made in the past that they lived scared, and no one should have to live that way. But I also shouldn’t be scared because I want to own my own guns. I can do that safely in my own home without affecting anyone else."
Betsy Sarcone told the news outlet her choice "would be Nikki Haley right now."
She said, I would fall on my sword and go caucus for DeSantis if it would really make a difference. If people were going to consolidate, I would go with DeSantis, but that's not what I'm seeing so far," Sarcone added, asking "How do you get people to consolidate?"
READ MORE: 'Stunned' former Trump official alarmed by his 'lack of sharpness' at Iowa rally
However, Ebersole is strongly considering Haley, too. "I think I would lean towards (Nikki) Haley," she said. I think that in the face of people calling names, in the face of people yelling and screaming in front of her, she held her composure. I think that she has the demeanor and the life experience that is more connected to actual Americans."
Originally leaning towards 2024 candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, Priscilla Forsysth has been turned off by the biotech entrepreneur's "constant interruptions" and immarity during the GOP debates.
"Usually, to me, the debates don't make a big difference," she said. "But they kind of did this time."
Forsyth added Haley "was very strong, but she was compassionate at the same time. It was just what you want to hear from a leader."
CNN's full report is here.