The Sweep: Who’s Got the Best Strategy for 2024?
Some candidates are hitting Iowa, some are sticking closer to home or focused on the midterms.
Headline of the Week
“In these locations, a gallon of gas costs more than the federal minimum wage,” from CBS News. Uvalde and abortion may be leading political news, but it’s hard to see any issue between now and November that will be more important to voters than inflation and gas prices.
Look Who’s Running
Iowa can be a very popular vacation destination for certain folks. Just look at former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who is scheduled to speak at the second annual "Feenstra Family Picnic," in Sioux Center, Iowa, in just a few days. Last year’s headliner was former Vice President Mike Pence. And lo and behold, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott is headlining the Iowa GOP Cedar Rapids reception with Iowa Senator Sen. Joni Ernst this month, too.
Pence has already visited New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Iowa three times each since leaving office. And he’s been out stumping for candidates, including campaigning with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp—whom former President Donald Trump has called the “worst governor in America”—the night before the Georgia primary. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has also been to Iowa at least three times since Trump left office. And he, too, has been out on the trail to support non-Trump endorsed candidates. A month ago, he held a press conference “about the ties Mehmet Oz, Trump’s endorsed candidate in the Pennsylvania Senate race, has to Turkey in a press briefing arranged by Oz’s chief opponent in the race.”
But you don’t have to wait outside the Des Moines airport to see who is seriously considering a run for president in 2024. You just have to check with the IRS.