Donald Trump emerged as the winner in Iowa’s Republican presidential caucuses on Monday night, securing a significant victory. However, the race for second place remained undecided.
Trump has consistently maintained large leads in most early state polls, making it crucial to determine who would secure the runner-up position and how close they would come to the former President.
As Iowa’s first-in-the-nation voting approached, Trump seemed poised for success, with polling data indicating support above 50% within the state. In contrast, other candidates such as Haley and DeSantis garnered support in the teens, according to RealClearPolitics.
Looking ahead to New Hampshire’s Republican primary on January 23, a closer contest was anticipated. This prospect was intensified by former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s recent departure from the 2024 presidential race. Christie, an outspoken critic of Trump, did not gain much traction in Iowa but managed to secure about 11% support in New Hampshire, placing him third according to RCP’s average. By combining Christie’s support with Haley’s 29% in the Granite State, she could potentially narrow the gap between herself and Trump’s 44%.
Beyond Iowa and New Hampshire, several vital steps remain in the race to become the GOP challenger to President Joe Biden, who is currently considered the Democratic Party favorite. South Carolina’s Republican primary on February 24 and the Super Tuesday primaries on March 5, involving over a dozen states, will significantly shape the competition.
Meanwhile, Trump has outlined his economic proposals for a potential second term. These include implementing a 10% tariff on all imports, another attempt to dismantle Obamacare XLV, and addressing student debt through the establishment of a free online college called the American Academy.
Haley’s economic agenda centers around raising the retirement age for Social Security but exclusively for younger individuals entering the system. She also aims to eliminate the federal tax on gasoline (RB00, +0.06%).
DeSantis, on the other hand, places a heavy emphasis on energy policies as a means to combat inflation. He pledges to curtail spending and criticizes the Trump administration’s expenditure record.
As a result of these developments, U.S. stock futures (ES00, -0.29%) initially showed a downward trend.