ABC News’ Jonathan Karl discusses 2024 Iowa Caucuses
The first test of the 2024 presidential election hits on Monday when Iowa Republicans gather to caucus, but will the caucuses provide an initial moment of truth for former President Donald Trump's comeback bid or will it help Republicans rally behind one of his challengers?
News Channel 3's Peter Daut spoke with Jonathan Karl, Chief Washington Correspondent for ABC News.
Karl says Trump is heavily favored to win the caucuses but there have been last-minute surprises in the past.
At this point, nobody has voted yet, so Karl says it will be interesting to see if the polls proved to be accurate about Trump and also who comes in second place.
Republican candidates have spent heavily in Iowa but the state is seeing fewer visitors and winter storms have upended events and travel plans.
Karl says if Ron DeSantis does not win, he needs a strong second-place finish.
Peter Daut also asked him about another candidate.
"I know Nikki Haley is in a tight race against Trump. Where do you see her fitting into all this?" Peter asked
Karl answered, "Well just the flipside of that. If Nikki Haley can find a way to surpass Desantis in Iowa, it sets her up very well in New Hampshire where she is doing extremely well in recent polls. It shows she is in striking distance of actually beating Donald Trump in New Hampshire."
The Republican party will hold its caucuses on Monday.
Iowa Democrats, separately, are choosing their candidate entirely by mail-in ballot this election cycle and will release their results in march.
Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing election coverage.
