Donald Trump jump-starts turnout efforts for Iowa Caucuses, blasts Kim Reynolds in Ankeny

ANKENY, Iowa — With fewer than 50 days before the Iowa Caucuses, GOP front-runner Donald Trump is intensifying his efforts in Iowa as he urged his supporters Saturday to turn out on caucus night.

"Bring as many people as you can to vote, and do the caucus like nobody’s ever done the caucus before," Trump told a tightly-packed crowd at the Whiskey River bar in Ankeny. "And we’re going to win that. … The more we win, they’re going to see that signal for the November election.”

Before the former president took the stage Saturday, the campaign played an animated video about how to register for the caucuses and a recording of Lara Trump — Trump’s daughter-in-law — explaining how the caucus process works. Trump encouraged people to sign up as precinct captains, incentivizing them with "beautiful hats" that say "TRUMP CAUCUS CAPTAIN" in gold.

More: Ron DeSantis completes 99-county Iowa tour in Newton Saturday as powerful endorsers join him

“President Trump has, of course, a tremendous lead in the polls. But we cannot leave anything to chance,” Lara Trump said in the video. “Your participation in the Iowa Caucus on Jan. 15 will send a powerful message to the world that the America First movement is stronger and more united than ever.”

Forty-three percent of likely Republican caucusgoers say Trump is their first choice for the Iowa Caucuses, according to an October Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa Poll. That puts him 27 percentage points ahead of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley.

Trump ridiculed his Republican challengers several times in his meandering, unscripted address, boasting about state and national polls that show him far ahead.

As the Iowa Caucuses approach, Trump’s opponents have dwindling opportunities to pry caucusgoers away from the former president. Attendees at the Whiskey River event, most of whom waited more than two hours to see Trump speak, said they’re not about to be swayed.

“I’m locked in for Trump. There’s no one even close,” said Carole Peters, a 63-year-old Ankeny resident who will be caucusing for the first time since moving from Arizona.

Kathleen Cunningham, a Trump precinct captain in Johnston, said she isn't worried about Trump's competitors winning an upset victory on caucus night.

"I don't think there's going to be any problem with that," said Cunningham, who is 72. "I don't think we're going to be fighting anybody off."

Dozens more Trump supporters stood bundled-up outside the bar, waiting for a glimpse of his motorcade. The crowd chanted "we want Trump" when several black SUVs pulled up. Trump exited the vehicle and was met with loud cheers as he threw red caps at the crowd and signed autographs.

Trump appeared at another event Saturday afternoon at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids. He plans to be back next weekend, Trump told the crowd in Ankeny, and he pledged to be "blitzing this beautiful place" in January.

'I believe in loyalty': Trump crowd boos Kim Reynolds over DeSantis endorsement

DeSantis and Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds were scheduled to rally in Newton on Saturday afternoon, celebrating the presidential candidate’s completion of a 99-county tour through Iowa. Reynolds, who endorsed DeSantis in November, has been critical of Trump's ability to win in 2024.

When Trump brought up Reynolds' endorsement, the Ankeny crowd booed. Trump again took credit for Reynolds' election victory in 2018, when she was running after taking over for former Gov. Terry Branstad.

"I believe in loyalty," Trump said.

"I don't care if she endorses me or not," he told the crowd. "It's not going to make any difference, because the only endorsement that matters is the Trump endorsement."

Trump's campaign is launching two new ads in Iowa, according to ABC News, including one that shows Reynolds supporting Trump at previous rallies and events.

Cunningham, the Johnston precinct captain, said she "used to love Gov. Reynolds," but she wasn't happy about the endorsement.

"I supported her, worked for her, everything," she said. "But when she decided to endorse DeSantis, she could have just stayed neutral. She could have just kept her mouth shut."

Reynolds and DeSantis have criticized Trump for skipping many of Iowa's candidate forums and for visiting the state less frequently than other candidates.

"That's the expectation of Iowans … they expect him to do the debate, they expect him to show up," Reynolds said in November. "They expect him to earn their votes, and he's just not doing it."

But members of Trump’s audience on Saturday said they aren't concerned about whether he does the full Iowa tour.

“I think Trump has the bigger name, obviously, so he maybe doesn’t have to do that,” said Jeff Peterson, a 47-year-old telecommunications worker from Ankeny. “I know all the rallies that he’s had are always packed, more so than DeSantis."

Jose Mendiola contributed reporting.

Katie Akin is a politics reporter for the Register. Reach her at kakin@registermedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @katie_akin.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Donald Trump urges Iowans to turn out, slams Kim Reynolds endorsement