Washington —
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, once widely viewed as the favorite to challenge former President Donald Trump for the GOP nomination, but now who appears to be battling Nikki Haley for second place, said his campaign feels "really good" heading into Monday night's Iowa caucuses.
After months of betting big on the Hawkeye State, DeSantis is nodding to the returns he hopes to see on the investment, even as polls show Trump maintaining a dominant lead.
"When people take a poll, they can push someone one way or other, but there's a lot of people that still haven't made up a final decision," DeSantis told "CBS Mornings" anchor Tony Dokoupil. "So I think we're in good situation to be able to capture that."
DeSantis has struggled to narrow the gap with the former president since launching his White House bid in May, despite an impressive initial fundraising haul. Still, he's invested heavily in Iowa and has traveled to all of the state's 99 counties, earning the endorsement of Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds in the process.
According to sources, as they go door to door, it has been discovered that Iowans are still in the process of considering their options between the former president and the Florida governor.
"That's the current situation," stated the Florida governor. "We have the opportunity to gain support, and I believe our efforts so far will yield surprising results."
The governor made it clear that he differentiates himself from the former president, as Trump has focused on his personal issues while he, as the Florida governor, is focused on the betterment of the country.
"It's not about me. It's about the future of the country," emphasized the governor. "I have fulfilled 100% of my promises. Donald Trump, on the other hand, did not build the wall and did not drain the swamp."
However, it is not only the former president who poses a challenge to the governor. Recent months have seen new momentum around Haley, which has raised questions about the governor's expected runner-up status.
With the stakes high in Iowa for the governor, a third-place finish or a disappointing second-place performance could potentially harm his presidential prospects as the nominating contest commences.
