Vivek Ramaswamy has the highest percentage of support from first-time Iowa caucus-goers, according to a new AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey.
The entrepreneur is the first choice of 35 percent of first-time caucus-goers, the New York Post reported on Monday evening.
Haley came in second with the support of 33 percent of first-timers, and former President Donald Trump is in third place among this group with 29 percent.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis comes in fourth with just 20 percent support.
Ramaswamy has held the most campaign events in Iowa — by far. According to the Des Moines Register, the candidate had 323 scheduled public events and visited all 99 counties at least twice each. The newspaper noted that he visited many of the counties three or four times each.
Trump attacked Ramaswamy for the first time over the weekend, claiming that a vote for Ramaswamy is a "wasted" vote. The candidates had largely remained cordial in the weeks prior.
In a Saturday Truth Social post, Trump wrote:Vivek started his campaign as a great supporter, “the best President in generations,” etc. Unfortunately, now all he does is disguise his support in the form of deceitful campaign tricks. Very sly, but a vote for Vivek is a vote for the “other side” — don’t get duped by this. Vote for “TRUMP,” don’t waste your vote! Vivek is not MAGA. The Biden Indictments against his Political Opponent will never be allowed in this Country, they are already beginning to fall! MAGA!!!
On Monday, Trump added:
A VOTE FOR VIVEK IS A WASTED VOTE. I LIKE VIVEK, BUT HE PLAYED IT TOO “CUTE” WITH US. CAUCUS TONIGHT, VOTE FOR DONALD J. TRUMP, BUILD UP THE NUMBERS!!! IN NOVEMBER, WE MUST TAKE OUR VERY TROUBLED NATION — A NATION IN DECLINE — BACK FROM CROOKED JOE BIDEN AND THE RADICAL LEFT DEMOCRATS AND THUGS WHO ARE DESTROYING IT. MAGA!!!
Ramaswamy responded to the remarks on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
On Saturday, Ramaswamy wrote:Yes, I saw President Trump’s Truth Social post. It’s an unfortunate move by his campaign advisors, I don’t think friendly fire is helpful. Donald Trump was the greatest President of the 21st century, and I’m not going to criticize him in response to this late attack.
I’m worried for Trump. I’m worried for our country. I’ve stood up against the persecutions against Trump, and I’ve defended him at every step. I showed up at the Miami courthouse in solidarity following his first federal indictment. I filed a FOIA demand to the Biden DOJ. I submitted an amicus brief this week with the U.S. Supreme Court calling on them to overturn Colorado’s ruling. I pledged to remove myself from Maine’s & Colorado’s primary ballots if they remove Trump, calling on DeSantis and Haley to do the same.
But we have to open our eyes. Last time it was a man-made pandemic & Big Tech election interference. Now, the same billionaires funding the lawsuits against Trump are the ones trying to prop up Nikki Haley. The same MSM blasting Trump is lavishing praise on Nikki. They want to narrow this to a two-horse race between Trump & Haley, eliminate Trump (one way or other), & trot their puppet into the White House.
Ramaswamy continued, "We can’t fall for that trap. 1 year from now, we won’t look back and say we were shocked that it happened. We’ll kick ourselves for not stopping it. "
"Our movement must live on. America-First didn’t start in 2016," Ramaswamy concluded. "It started in 1776. We owe it to our Founding Fathers to do the right thing for our country. I want to save Trump & to save this country. Let’s do it together. You won’t hear any friendly fire from me." Yes, I saw President Trump’s Truth Social post. It’s an unfortunate move by his campaign advisors, I don’t think friendly fire is helpful. Donald Trump was the greatest President of the 21st century, and I’m not going to criticize him in response to this late attack.
I’ve met…
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) January 14, 2024
On Monday, he added, "I’ve defended Trump at every step & respect him immensely. You won’t hear me attacking him. I’m asking for your vote tonight because I believe it’s the right thing for our country." I’ve defended Trump at every step & respect him immensely. You won’t hear me attacking him. I’m asking for your vote tonight because I believe it’s the right thing for our country. We cannot walk into the other side’s trap & watch the puppet masters quietly trot Nikki into power. pic.twitter.com/E1gM5ydrXW
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) January 15, 2024
Ramaswamy's post concluded, "We cannot walk into the other side’s trap & watch the puppet masters quietly trot Nikki into power."
Editor's Note: This article was updated with more information shortly after publishing.
