Benzinga - by Piero Cingari, Benzinga Staff Writer.
Monday night’s caucuses in Iowa mark the kick-off of the Republican nominating process, with voters participating after extensive campaigning. Key figures include former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, all engaging in last-minute appeals before the 7 p.m. Central time at which the caucus will convene.
Iowa Caucus Mechanics Explained: The caucus process, as Maegan Vazquez from the Washington Post reports, involves Iowa Republican voters gathering at local precincts, undergoing procedural activities, listening to campaign speeches and casting ballots for their preferred presidential candidate. The process, starting at 7 p.m. Central, is expected to be swift, with vote counting and announcements happening in real-time.
Extreme Weather In Iowa: Trump is the front-runner, but the severe cold could influence turnout, thereby affecting the tight race between Haley and DeSantis for second replace. Reuters reports a significant weather advisory: “Over 95 million citizens are within a Wind Chill Warning, Advisory, or Watch as of midnight tonight.”
The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Des Moines forecasts persistent frigid conditions in Iowa, with wind chills around negative 40 Fahrenheit “at least into Tuesday.”
Impact of Weather On Voter Turnout: CNN cited Iowa Republican strategist David Kochel‘s initial estimate of 150,000 caucus participants. Given the extreme cold, he now anticipates a lower turnout, noting the conditions as “painful” and “dangerous,” particularly in rural areas with slower emergency response times. Kochel suggests that the caucuses may yield unexpected results.
Cold Weather Campaign Strategies: Dan Scavino Jr., Trump’s senior adviser, tweeted an image of Trump in a winter coat, captioned: “Soon, Iowa.”
You can find your CAUCUS VOTING location at: https://t.co/rCuNO9PA3Q. pic.twitter.com/V1u0voKQl8— Dan Scavino Jr.