Trump is raising expectations heading into the Iowa caucuses. Now he has to meet them

NORTH LIBERTY, Iowa (AP) — When Donald Trump launched his 2024 presidential campaign after a disappointing midterm election for Republicans, his trajectory was something of a mystery. But seven days before Iowa’s kick-off caucuses, his standing among the GOP faithful is hardly in doubt.

Voters, campaign operatives and even some of the candidates on the ground here overwhelmingly agree that the Republican former president is the prohibitive favorite heading into the Jan. 15 caucuses — whether they like it or not.

“Everybody sees the writing on the wall,” said Angela Roemerman, a 56-year-old Republican from Solon, Iowa, as she waited for former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley to arrive for a weekend rally at Field Day Brewing Co. in North Liberty.

“It’s a little depressing,” Roemerman said as her order of tortilla chips arrived, lamenting “all the drama” surrounding Trump. “We don’t need another four years. But Trump’s going to win.”

<bsp-list-loadmore data-module="" class=«PageListStandardB» data-gtm-region=«Other news» data-gtm-topic=«No Value» data-show-loadmore=«true» data-gtm-modulestyle=«List B»> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> Other news </bsp-custom-headline> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> Florida Republicans vote on removing party chairman accused of rape as DeSantis pins hopes on Iowa </bsp-custom-headline> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> Iowa’s Christian conservatives follow their faith when voting, and some say it leads them to Trump<use xlink:href="#play-icon" xmlns:xlink=«http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink»> </bsp-custom-headline> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> DeSantis’ State of the State address might be as much for Iowa voters as it is for Floridians