An Iowa Christian leader has made his choice on who he believes best represents his organization and the country’s values, providing a key endorsement that will influence conservatives in the critical early-voting state.
On Tuesday, Bob Vander Plaats, the president and CEO of The Family Leader endorsed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis during an interview with Fox News, a big win for the Sunshine State Republican whom he described as “bold and courageous.”
“I am thrilled to throw my personal endorsement and support behind Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida,” Vander Plaats said in announcing his decision to go with DeSantis over former President Donald J. Trump or media darling Nikki Haley.
(Video: Fox News)
Asked by anchor Bret Baier about the reasoning behind his pick, Vander Plaats cited the 2022 election in Florida where DeSantis easily mopped the floor with Democrat Charlie Crist, one of the positive GOP results in an otherwise disappointing showing by the party in the midterms.
“Well, the reason it’s not a surprise is that we need to find somebody who can win in 2024,” he said. “What we saw in 2022, the supposedly red wave really only happened in Florida and in Iowa. Governor DeSantis took a reliable toss-up state in Florida and made it complete red. Won by 20 points. Won in demographics we haven’t won.”
“But he’s also done that by being a bold and courageous leader,” Vander Plaats continued.
“So right away it was kind of his endorsement to lose,” he added, saying that DeSantis “closed the sale” at last week’s Family Leader Thanksgiving Family Forum when the governor emphasized that, unlike Trump, he could serve two terms.
“We don’t need a president that’s going to be a lame duck on day one,” he said.
DeSantis, who hours earlier told reporters “We’re hopeful that we’re able to secure that endorsement,” touted the big score in a post to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, after Vander Plaats made it official.
“As I’ve made my way through 98 of Iowa’s 99 counties, Iowans have shared what a critical role @bobvanderplaats plays in engaging Iowa’s faith community in the key battles that matter. His support tells Iowans they can trust me to fight and win for them,” DeSantis wrote.
As I’ve made my way through 98 of Iowa’s 99 counties, Iowans have shared what a critical role @bobvanderplaats plays in engaging Iowa’s faith community in the key battles that matter. His support tells Iowans they can trust me to fight and win for them.
We’re thrilled to have… pic.twitter.com/7QO6CgVK4T
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) November 21, 2023
“We’re thrilled to have Bob and Darla on Team DeSantis and are thankful for their friendship as we’ve gotten to know them throughout this campaign,” he added. “The road to America’s revival starts in Iowa, and we will get the job done.”
The 2024 frontrunner reacted by suggesting that DeSantis bribed Vander Plaats for the endorsement.
“Ron DeDeSanctimonious, in an act of sheer desperation, paid Iowa preacher Bob Vander Plaats $100,000, and then got his Endorsement? We did not seek it. What is going on here?” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
(Screenshot: Truth Social)
DeSantis also landed a nod from Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, something that Trump has been dismissive of while blasting the Hawkeye State Republican for siding with his top GOP rival.
Vander Plaats, who has an uneven relationship with the former president, previously said that his “absence communicates a lot to our base” of Trump’s choosing not to participate in the Family Leader Thanksgiving Family Forum.
“There’s definitely a shot that the former president can be beat here,” he told Fox News Digital last week.
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