CORALVILLE, Iowa — It is the final three weeks before the Iowa caucuses, which mean Republican presidential candidates are hitting the campaign trail hard.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is campaigning with one of his key supporters: Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt.
The question is, how will Gov. Stitt be able to persuade Iowans to show up on caucus night? Local 5 spoke exclusively with the two governors as they campaigned in Iowa.
Stitt said that the country needs a president who can serve for eight years, and one who can beat President Joe Biden.
"Here's what we believe: you don't put your constitution in the attic just because somebody in Washington D.C. tells you to," Stitt said. "We believe in freedoms and personal responsibilities. And so, you know, DeSantis is the guy that can get this done, and he follows through on his promises and I think that's what Iowans need to understand."
Stitt's endorsement came early on in the race in June at an event in Oklahoma.
Despite Stitt supporting Trump in previous elections and DeSantis polling behind former President Donald Trump, Stitt is sticking with his message that DeSantis is the one for the job.
"I just came out and said, 'Hey, DeSantis is the right guy'," Stitt said. "I know everybody in the race, and I know the guy that can actually get there, be there for eight years, beat Joe Biden and then also deliver on his promises. It's clearly Gov. DeSantis."
On the campaign trail, DeSantis continues to emphasize that polls don't matter to him.
When asked how he plans to win the 2024 Iowa Caucus, DeSantis said that he has more than 1,000 precinct captains across Iowa and people from out of state will be coming to help.
"People outside of Iowa don't necessarily appreciate how this is a process. It's not just sending a mail ballot, you're going there, every candidate can have someone speak on their behalf," DeSantis said. "You can have people speak, I mean, we'll have people that I serve with in Florida that will go and speak now. They can't vote, of course, in the caucus, but they're gonna go."
While Stitt might not have a connection to Iowa, DeSantis believes he is still a key endorsement that will help him win over Iowans.
"When you look at somebody like Gov. Stitt in Oklahoma, he's walked the walk, not just talked the talk," DeSantis said. "Gov. [Kim] Reynolds here in Iowa has walked the walk, not just talked the talk and I've done the same thing. So this is the model where we can turn the country around."
Ultimately, Iowa is a must win state for the DeSantis campaign and the outcome is something the whole country will be paying attention to.
"The whole world is watching Iowa. Oklahoma is watching Iowa, and you guys here get to decide what happens," Stitt said. "You're the very first caucus. And so, you know, forget the polls and all this stuff that we're hearing nationally. Let's go elect the best person for the job. And that's Gov. DeSantis."
DeSantis previously said he would consider Reynolds as a running mate if he won the nomination. When asked if Stitt could also be a potential running mate, DeSantis told Local 5 it would be presumptuous of him to be tossing out names, but he would be inclined to choose a governor.
Stitt said right now he loves Oklahoma and this country, he just wants someone who can beat Biden.