DeSantis Returns to Iowa as Trump Rivalry Intensifies

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis makes his fourth trip to Iowa this weekend for the state GOP's annual Lincoln Dinner, but his campaign faces growing questions about how to compete with former President Donald Trump. Despite staffing changes and a recalibrated message, DeSantis continues to trail Trump in national and early-state polling, leaving Iowa conservatives weighing whether the governor can close the gap before caucus season.

What's behind DeSantis' polling struggles?

Interviews with 17 people working in and around the DeSantis campaign reveal a candidate caught between two camps. Loyalists want the governor to highlight his own conservative accomplishments and avoid a direct fight with Trump. Frustrated supporters argue he needs a sharper contrast with the former president to win over undecided Republicans.

Republican operative Alex Conant, who worked on Senator Marco Rubio's 2016 presidential bid, said the core challenge is straightforward.