Bob Vander Plaats, a prominent figure in the evangelical community in Iowa, has officially endorsed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. This endorsement comes as DeSantis strives to secure victory in the first state of the presidential primary cycle.
Despite trailing former President Donald Trump by significant margins in early polling both in Iowa and nationally, DeSantis's supporters within the faith community believe that Vander Plaats' endorsement, along with the endorsement from Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, will help him gain support among evangelical Christian voters in Iowa, who have remained loyal to Trump since 2016.
Vander Plaats made the announcement during an appearance on Fox News on Tuesday night. He stated that after repeated efforts from DeSantis, including visiting Vander Plaats' organization's office and attending church with him, the endorsement was DeSantis's to "lose".
Furthermore, Vander Plaats emphasized that DeSantis "closed the sale" during a recent Thanksgiving candidate roundtable hosted by Vander Plaats' organization. DeSantis argued that the country needs a president who is capable of serving two terms.
Conservative Leader Endorses DeSantis for President
"We need a president who will surround themselves with the best and brightest people, someone who will actually do what they say they're going to do. And I believe DeSantis has the spine and experience to win for us," said the president and CEO of The FAMiLY Leader, Bob Vander Plaats.
Vander Plaats, who leads an Iowa-based conservative Christian organization, hosted DeSantis along with former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy for a Thanksgiving roundtable in Des Moines last weekend.
It's worth noting that Vander Plaats' endorsement is not affiliated with his organization, which historically does not endorse candidates before the Iowa caucus. The organization's nonprofit wing is also restricted from supporting any particular candidate.
Vander Plaats has a track record of backing the eventual winners of the Iowa GOP caucus. He supported Sen. Ted Cruz in 2016, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum in 2012, and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in 2008. Vander Plaats himself ran for Iowa governor in 2010 before joining The FAMiLY Leader.
However, it's worth noting that none of Vander Plaats' endorsed candidates in Iowa went on to win the nomination. When asked about this on Fox, Vander Plaats responded, "I think the country needs to look at Iowa a little bit more."
"Iowa is ground zero. If you up-end the former president here, I think we are going to offer America a choice between President Trump and Governor Ron DeSantis. If President Trump wins Iowa here, I think it's going to be awfully hard to make the case that you can beat President Trump and he's going to be your eventual nominee," he added.
Vander Plaats has been at odds with Trump, whom he has called "the biggest risk" for Republicans "to not win back the White House." On Tuesday, he said the evangelical community may be split on Trump because "they're a little bit exhausted by the constant indictments" and "constant complain[ts] about the past."
He has been critical of Trump calling Florida's six-week abortion ban "a terrible thing." Reynolds, who has also endorsed DeSantis, signed a similar ban that is stalled in the courts.
"The sanctity of life is not something to be nuanced. It's not something to be poll-tested, it's not a thing where the heartbeat bill is 'too harsh' of a thing to be passed in the state of Iowa or the state of Florida," Vander Plaats said last Saturday at a gala put on by the Pulse Live Advocates group, the longest standing anti-abortion rights group in the Hawkeye State.
Trump's pollsters suggested in a November memo that a Vander Plaats endorsement of DeSantis would have "no significant impact on the Presidential ballot."
Trump Accuses DeSantis of Trying to "Buy" Endorsement from Iowa Faith Leader
In a recent development, former President Donald Trump accused Florida Governor Ron DeSantis of attempting to "buy" the endorsement of Iowa faith leader Bob Vander Plaats. Trump referenced a Reuters report that revealed DeSantis and his affiliated groups had paid $95,000 to the Family Leader Foundation, the non-profit arm of Vander Plaats' organization, in exchange for ad space in a booklet distributed at an event.
In anticipation of Vander Plaats' expected endorsement, Trump's campaign released a statement highlighting the support of Iowa faith leaders who back Trump. Trump suggested that Vander Plaats' endorsement was influenced by the $95,000 payment made by DeSantis.
Vander Plaats responded to these claims during a Fox interview, asserting that all their activities are transparent and above board. He also emphasized that all campaigns had the opportunity to pay for inclusion in the program booklet.
Meanwhile, DeSantis, who was campaigning in New Hampshire, expressed optimism about securing Vander Plaats' support. He noted their good relationship and highlighted the positive response he received from attendees at the Family Leader Forum.
"To have the governor, then to have Bob and his network — that's going to be a pretty powerful machine," DeSantis stated.
According to David Kochel, a well-known strategist in Iowa's GOP, Vander Plaats' endorsement may not directly bring in a significant number of votes, but it is a crucial piece of the puzzle for success in Iowa.
Kochel also stated that DeSantis is in need of positive news after a challenging summer, and Vander Plaats' endorsement signifies some progress and momentum for him.
