Trump has revamped his Iowa caucus playbook to make sure supporters vote

Eight years ago, then-first time presidential hopeful Donald Trump kicked off his campaign rallies as songs by Luciano Pavarotti and Elton John blasted away.

He still does, except now the campaign also plays in-depth videos explaining the caucus process, hosts panel discussions among caucus precinct captains and even gives out «limited edition» Trump-signed hats to campaign volunteers as supporters wait for him to take the stage.

It's an effort by the Trump campaign to flip the script for his third presidential run by revamping its Iowa playbook, recognizing the importance of ensuring that the excitement supporters show at campaign rallies translates into their actually heading to their local precinct to caucus for the former president.

It's a lesson Trump, then an Iowa caucus novice, learned from his loss to Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in 2016, despite having momentum from earlier in the cycle.

Now, returning to Iowa for his third presidential bid, he's armed with a more experienced and sophisticated operation that includes a ground game his team has been building for years.

With just days to go until the GOP caucuses, Trump, at a Friday night Iowa rally, repeatedly told his supporters to make sure to vote on Jan. 15.

«We're not taking any chances,» he said. «The biggest risk is, you say you know what? He's winning by so much, darling. Let's stay home and watch television. Let's watch this great victory. And if enough people do that, it's not going to be pretty. But we're not going to let that happen.»

Friday marked Trump's first campaign appearance in Iowa this year, headlining a rally in Sioux Center in the afternoon and another rally in Mason City later that evening.

On Saturday, on the third-year anniversary of a pro-Trump mob