Jeff Kaufman (file photo)
Iowa’s two major political parties are bracing for a bruising battle over the six presidential elector votes Iowa has in the Electoral College.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump overhauled his campaign today, bringing in a new CEO for the organization. Iowa GOP chairman Jeff Kaufmann said there are “ups and downs in every campaign.”
“I think, in Iowa, this is going to be a battle all the way to the end and he seems to be holding in there,” Kaufmann said this morning during a conference call with reporters.
Trump’s “populist” message is working, according to Kaufmann.
“As you might expect in a state that’s purple, it’s been a dog fight the entire time,” Kaufmann said. “I mean we’re going after every vote whether they’re independent, whether they’re soft Democrat or whether they’re Republican.”
Hillary Clinton, the Democratic Party’s nominee, campaigned in Iowa last week. Iowa Democratic Party chairwoman Andy McGuire said her party is “motivated” to put Iowa in Clinton’s column on November 8.
Andy McGuire (file photo)
“I think we all know this election is like no other,” McGuire said at Clinton’s rally at Des Moines Lincoln High School.
The Iowa Democratic Party has opened “organizing” office in 24 Iowa cities to coordinate get-out-the-vote efforts.
“We’ve got hundreds of hard-working staff,” McGuire said. “…We’re knocking doors. We’re collecting those absentee ballot requests. We’re making those phone calls.”
Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, the Democratic Party’s vice presidential candidate, is campaigning in Iowa today. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump will return the last weekend of this month. Trump’s appearance at Senator Joni Ernst’s “Roast and Ride” fundraiser will be his third trip to Iowa this month.