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Vivek Ramaswamy rents apartment in Des Moines as campaign plans to focus on Iowa [1]

['Robin Opsahl', 'More From Author', '- November']

Date: 2023-11

Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has rented a Des Moines apartment as his presidential campaign prepares to shift resources to Iowa.

Ramaswamy’s Iowa residence was first reported by the Washington Post Wednesday — and campaign officials confirmed that he has stayed at the residence during October campaign trips to Iowa. The biotech entrepreneur and author primarily resides in Columbus, Ohio, with his wife Apoorva Ramaswamy, and their two sons.

The new apartment comes as Ramaswamy plans to spend more time and money on his campaign in Iowa ahead of the Jan. 15, 2024 Iowa Republican caucuses.

He was the top choice for 4% of likely GOP caucusgoers in the October Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa Poll — tied with former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. He trailed behind former President Donald Trump at 43%, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley at 15%, and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott at 7% support.

Ramaswamy is not the first candidate to move to Iowa in hopes of improving their prospects in the Iowa caucuses. Marianne Williamson moved to Des Moines during her bid to become the 2020 presidential Democratic nominee. Former U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd also moved to Des Moines for his 2008 presidential campaign.

Williamson dropped out two weeks before the Feb. 3, 2020 Democratic caucuses, while Dodd dropped out Jan. 3, 2008, the night of the Iowa caucuses, after winning less than 1% of vote.

Campaign officials told reporters to expect Ramaswamy to shift more resources and efforts to Iowa after his appearance on the debate stage in Miami on Nov. 8. Ramaswamy plans to attend the third Republican presidential debate alongside candidates including DeSantis, Haley and Christie, as Trump plans to hold a rally in Hialeah, Florida, the same night.

Ramaswamy is not the only presidential candidate who plans to focus on Iowa in the months remaining before the caucuses. Though Trump holds a clear lead in Iowa and national polling, other Republican contenders are hoping that a strong showing in Iowa could prove a path forward for an alternative. Scott announced in late October that his campaign would go “all-in on Iowa,” and DeSantis plans to complete the “full Grassley” — holding events in all 99 of Iowa’s counties — in the lead-up to January 2024.

At an Oskaloosa campaign stop in October, Ramaswamy told the crowd that his “only chance” to become the 2024 Republican presidential nominee is through the Iowa caucuses.

“It’s this simple: if I win this Iowa caucus — and I think we can, that’s in your hands — I am your next president,” Ramaswamy said.

Ramaswamy announced a $12 million ad buy in Iowa and New Hampshire Thursday, set to begin airing Saturday. The ad introduces potential voters to Ramaswamy’s campaign pitch, advocating for “truths” such as “reverse racism is racism” and “parents determine the education of their children.”

The campaign is spending up to $8 million in Iowa and $4 million in New Hampshire on television, radio, digital and direct mail ads, staff said in a news release, which will continue until the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary.

Tricia McLaughlin, campaign spokesperson for Ramaswamy’s 2024 campaign, noted that these buys could increase in either or both states. She also said that voters should be prepared for the candidate to ramp up campaign efforts in the coming weeks.

“Vivek’s not an idiot,” McLaughlin said in a news release. “Going up anytime earlier would have been stupid. And this is just the beginning. If people thought he was aggressive with events leading up to this, stay tuned for post-November 8.”

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[1] Url: https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/briefs/vivek-ramaswamy-rents-apartment-in-des-moines-as-campaign-plans-to-focus-on-iowa/

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