NEWTON, Iowa — Hundreds of Iowans, both in support and undecided on who to caucus for next month, attended Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' 99th county event on Saturday.
DeSantis had promised throughout his campaign he'd be the "only candidate" to do the "full Grassley", which refers to when a politician visits all 99 Iowan counties.
"The fact that I’m willing to do this, that should show you that I consider myself a servant, not a ruler," Gov. DeSantis said on Saturday. "That’s how people who get elected should consider themselves.”
Throughout the event, DeSantis and his wife, Casey, reflected on their family's "great time" in Iowa, including when their kids saw snow for the first time in their lives on Saturday.
DeSantis also broke down the counties he attended, and recalled moments which stuck out to him.
Local 5 spoke with many Iowans throughout the day, including residents who remain undecided on who they'll caucus for in January — and others who are set on DeSantis.
“There’s some good things on a lot of the candidates that I’m just out evaluating which one I’ll want to support," Newton resident Carolyn Israel said.
Thad Nearmyer, a Jasper County resident, said he is also undecided on who he'll caucus for, but was excited to finally attend a DeSantis event.
Dan Kelley is a former Iowa State Representative who transitioned from the Democratic to Republican party recently. Kelley said he's also undecided, and wanted to be there on Saturday to hear from DeSantis so he can make a decision "not only for myself, but where I think our country needs to go."
DeSantis supporter Ross McGregor is a Davenport resident who drove two hours to see the Florida governor on Saturday.
“[DeSantis's] got a better chance of doing well in Iowa, because he’s gone around and done all these smaller events,” McGregor said.
The Iowans Local 5 spoke with remained divided on whether or not DeSantis completing the "full Grassley" mattered to them.
The campaign milestone for DeSantis came at a time where party rival, former President Donald Trump also held an event in Iowa the same day.
The Thunderdome in Newton, Iowa, hosted DeSantis' event, and Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and FAMiLY Leader CEO Bob Vander Plaats also spoke, both of whom recently endorsed the Republican presidential candidate.
"Ron is the most effective leader that I have ever seen in a long, long time. And he will be the best president we have seen in decades," Reynolds said.
The Iowa caucuses are still over a month away, but DeSantis and other Republican presidential candidates remain well behind the party’s front runner, former President Trump, in polling numbers.