“One of Them Has to Emerge”: Scenes From Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley’s Winter of Wishcasting in Iowa

Trump Bashes Vivek • The Evangelical Vote • Latest Polling [View in your browser]( | [Update your preferences](newsletter=vf) [Vanity Fair Hive logo image]( “One of Them Has to Emerge”: Scenes From Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley’s Winter of Wishcasting in Iowa Good morning from the Hive newsroom! There seems little doubt that Donald Trump will win tonight’s [historically frigid]( Iowa caucuses, while Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis “play for second,” [reports]( Eric Lutz. “The question,” says Drake professor Dennis Goldford, “is whether anybody exceeds expectations—whether somebody like Trump fails to meet expectations.” Trump appears to have locked up the crucial evangelical vote, despite wariness from some church leaders early on, [writes]( Caleb Ecarma. (For more on this dynamic, check out last month’s Inside the Hive [interview]( with author Tim Alberta.) Plus, Jack McCordick [finds]( Trump lashing out at Vivek Ramaswamy, who has often lavished praise on the former president, and [notes]( that nearly half of Haley’s voters would prefer Joe Biden over Trump, according to a new Iowa poll. We’ll be watching tonight’s results and have coverage online and in Tuesday’s newsletter. [“One of Them Has to Emerge”: Scenes From Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley’s Winter of Wishcasting in Iowa]( By [Eric Lutz]( [Camp DeSantis bluffed and camp Haley hedged last week in Des Moines, where their supporters weathered the cold reality of Donald Trump’s dominance. “He’s just too much,” said one attendee, while another added: “Chaos follows him.”]( [Read more button](   [How Trump Is Securing the Evangelical Vote Ahead of Iowa]( By [Caleb Ecarma]( [The former president has assembled a crew of loyalist pastors to spur support among evangelical voters in the Republican primary, even as some established leaders have tried to steer them toward Ron DeSantis.]( [Read more button](   [Donald Trump Turns on Vivek Ramaswamy: “Don’t Get Duped”]( By [Jack McCordick]( [The about-face comes the weekend before Iowa GOP voters will nominate their presidential candidate.]( [Read more button](   [Donald Trump Doesn’t Fit the Perfect Evangelical Model. That Works to His Advantage]( By [Brian Stelter]( [Author Tim Alberta explains why conservative churchgoers are so devoted to the former president—and how a steady diet of outrage is further radicalizing the flock.]( [Read more button](   [Iowa Poll: Nearly Half of Nikki Haley Voters Prefer Biden Over Trump]( By [Jack McCordick]( [The latest numbers from the Hawkeye State show that most Republicans would vote for the former president in November, but not Haley supporters.]( [Read more button](   Get on the list Subscribe to our Hollywood newsletter for your essential industry and awards-season news, every day. [Sign Up Now](   [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [LinkedIn](   This e-mail was sent to you by The Hive. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add our e-mail address, vanityfair@newsletter.vf.com, to your address book. View our [Privacy Policy]( [Unsubscribe]( Sent from Condé Nast, 1 World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007 Copyright © 2024 Condé Nast