First-time Iowa caucusgoers could fuel a big win for Trump

DES MOINES, Iowa — Former President Donald Trump isn’t just looking to win Iowa’s GOPcaucuses on Monday. He’s looking for a big win.

For that, he’ll need supporters like Gene Pinegar to show up.

Pinegar, a 72 year-old veteran from Marshall County, has never attended a Republican caucus before. A self-described independent, he registered with the Republican Party just so he can participate this year and support the former president.

“Donald Trump deserves me going, with all the crap that the Democrats put him through,” Pinegar told NBC News in a phone interview on Saturday morning. “You know, I can stand up for him, too.”

A new NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll of likely Iowa caucusgoers released Saturday finds Trump dominating among first-time caucusgoers, with 56% saying he is their first-choice candidate.

Just 14% back former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, while 13% support Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and 11% back entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.

That translates to more support for Trump and Ramaswamy among first-time caucusgoers than among likely caucusgoers overall, and slightly less support for Haley and DeSantis than among the total GOP electorate, according to the poll. The overall results are 48% for Trump, 20% for Haley, 16% for DeSantis and 8% for Ramaswamy.

“Logic would have suggested that the way the challengers were going to make a better showing would be to bring new people in,” said veteran Iowa pollster J. Ann Selzer, who conducted the survey. “And it appears from these data that did not happen to the degree that Trump brought new people in.”

Trump’s early-state director Alex Latcham said in a phone interview that Trump’s strength among first-time caucusgoers reflects his popularity Iowa more