How to beat Trump in Iowa – and survive the state fair
By POLITICO
11/08/23·54m 59s
This week, almost every Republican running for president is headed to
the Iowa State Fair, famous for its fried Twinkies and statues of farm
animals made out of butter and — every four years — extremely
embarrassing photos of candidates eating unwieldy treats.
The Iowa State Fair also kicks off a new more intense period of the
Republican primary season as nationally televised debates begin this
month and the five month countdown to the Iowa Caucuses begins.
Iowa’s importance in presidential nomination contests ebbs and flows and
this year the state looms as more important than ever.
The conventional wisdom among Republicans is that if Donald Trump’s
opponents can’t slow him down in Iowa, then the race may be over.
Joining Playbook co-author and Deep Dive host Ryan Lizza for this
episode is the man responsible for administering this critical contest –
the chairman of the Iowa Republican Party, Jeff Kaufmann. Kaufmann is
also a history professor and in the course of this conversation, he
teaches a master class on everything you need to know about the Iowa
Republican caucuses and what it will take to win them in 2024.
Ryan Lizza is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO.
Jeff Kaufmann is the Chairman of the Iowa GOP.
Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio.
Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio.