‘More impressive than I thought’: Iowa voters warm to Haley as Trump alternative

DUBUQUE — Ernie Rairdin considers himself “pretty conservative.”

An evangelical Christian, the Cedar Rapids resident said he’s “not totally on the Republican Party, except they share my Christian beliefs closer than any other” political party. The 85-year-old, who takes 3D photos of presidential candidates, said he is and has long been a registered Republican.

“I changed my party one time,” Rairdin said.

It was 2008 and a longtime U.S. senator from Delaware was running for the Democratic presidential nomination. Rairdin said he switched his party registration to caucus for then-candidate Joe Biden. The pair met at a Biden campaign event and bonded over their shared appreciation an interest in stereoscopic photography.

Fifteen years later, he’s switched back to the Republican Party.

Sitting in the basement of Emmaus Bible College in Dubuque, waiting to hear Thursday from Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley at a campaign town hall, Rairdin said he was unconvinced Haley or any other Republican candidate could stop former President Donald Trump from running away with the GOP nomination. Trump has consistently held a commanding lead in polls.

Rairdin, though, is not convinced Trump can beat Biden, or whomever becomes the Democratic nominee, and win the 2024 general election. But he would likely support Trump, regardless.

“I don’t think Trump can win,” Rairdin said. “But he would probably be who I’m supporting. I just hope he can (beat Biden). He’s our only hope, really.”

An hour later, he completely changed his mind.

After listening to Haley talk about countering Chinese aggression abroad and challenges to American interests, securing the U.S.-Mexico border, supporting Israel in its war against Hamas and providing equipment and ammunition to Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion of the country, Rairdin said he’s all-in to caucus for the former governor of South Carolina and former United Nations ambassador under Trump.

He said “Nikki hit all the triggers” to solidify his support in Iowa’s first-in-the-nation GOP caucuses in two months that kick off the presidential nominating contest.

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“She’s just more impressive than I thought. … She’s got my vote,” Rairdin said.

Haley spoke to about 200 people crammed into the college’s basement coffee shop.

The former South Carolina governor has stacked up endorsements and climbed in recent polling following another strong showing last week in the third Republican presidential debate and as she attempts to solidify her lead against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in New Hampshire and improve her standing in Iowa.

Haley announced Tuesday she had been endorsed by more than 70 Iowa officials and community leaders, including current and former state lawmakers. The endorsements comes after Haley’s campaign announced it was spending $10 million on advertising in Iowa and New Hampshire starting in December. Haley’s has attended nearly 60 events in Iowa, and her campaign opened an office in Clive.

The latest Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa poll shows Haley’s support has swelled in what has become a heated battle for second place in Iowa, pulling even with DeSantis for a distant second place behind Trump, with 16 percent of likely Iowa Republican caucusgoers selecting them as their first choice for president.

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And polling this week from Emerson College shows Haley emerging as second to Trump in New Hampshire, surpassing DeSantis and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

Haley's campaign moves in the Hawkeye State also come days after U.S. Sen. Tim Scott -- also from South Carolina -- dropped out of the presidential race Sunday night.

Rairdin, the likely Republican caucusgoer from Cedar Rapids, said he previously was considering supporting Scott, as well as former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who received 1 percent support in the Iowa Poll.

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Barbara Collins, 68, of Bellevue, waiting to hear from Haley, asked friend Joan Lentz, 73, of Dubuque, “Do you think she’s going to continue to keep rising?”

“I think she is,” Collins said. “I think she’s a moderate female who is smart, experienced and I think Republicans and country and ready for something different.”

She said she feels Haley can draw both moderates and staunch conservatives as well as independents and suburban women — which have become an increasingly important bloc for both parties — given her diplomatic and foreign and domestic policy experience.

Collins also said for a Republican Party struggling with abortion messaging in the wake of recent electoral victories by abortion rights campaigners in Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky, Haley appears to have the answer.

As a lawmaker and then governor, Haley supported passage by the South Carolina Legislature of some of the most restrictive abortion limits in the country at the time. She has said the Supreme Court was right to hand the issue back to the states, but has urged Republicans against pushing for a national ban with little chance of passing.

Instead, the former U.N. ambassador has spoke broadly about “sensitivity” and finding “national consensus” on banning late-term abortions, encouraging adoption, making contraception more accessible and not jailing women who receive an abortion.

Haley didn’t touch on the topic Thursday in Dubuque, but anti-abortion rights activists warned that her approach would alienate base voters.

“It’s a lightning rod,” Collins said of abortion.

Collins said she considers herself as a socially moderate conservative who is “pro-life” and supports same-sex marriage. “That’s probably why I think Ron DeSantis is going to have a tougher row, because he’s more conservative there,” she said.

DeSantis has said he would support a 15-week national abortion ban.

Lentz, of Dubuque, said she likes Haley’s support of Israel and Ukraine, and doesn’t appreciate other candidates “waffling” on sending additional aid to Ukraine.

Lentz, who calls herself a fiscal conservative and social moderate, said she likes Haley’s stance on abortion. “I think she would have broad appeal in a general election, because she isn’t a hard-liner,” she said.

Collins said Haley “is a little more hawkish” on foreign policy than she would like. She said she aligns more with Ohio entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy on foreign policy.

“I think we’ve given enough money to Ukraine, and they’ve been at war and they’ve been part of Russia and when do we stop paying that?” she said. “I don’t feel that way about Israel. I feel we owe Israel to stand right beside them.”

Both women intend to caucus.

Lentz, who caucuse for Ben Carson in 2016, said she’s “pretty much settled” on supporting Haley. “I don’t dislike Ron DeSantis. I really like Chris Christie as well, but I don’t think he has much chance of winning the primary because of his stance on Donald Trump,” she said.

Collins said she remains undecided. He said Haley remains her favorite, but is also considering DeSantis and Ramaswamy.

“I was initially a big Vivek fan, but he’s starting to say things that make me wonder if he’s quite ready for this challenge,” she said. “He talks about wild things, and I don’t think he knows enough about foreign affairs.”

Both said while they felt Trump helped grow the economy as president, he’s become too divisive, childish and polarizing. Trump faces 91 felony counts in four criminal cases

“You know it’s bad when Republicans are praying one of these felonies sticks,” Collins said.

Haley also said she supports raising the retirement age for Americans currently in their 20s so that it matches current life expectancy, and limiting Social Security and Medicare benefits for wealthier Americans. She also said she would push to expand Medicare Advantage plans, in which private companies offer plans that are reimbursed by the government for care, to increase competition.

She said she would protect those currently receiving Social Security and Medicare. The programs are coming up against insolvency deadlines.

Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart, in a statement, said Haley would put “Social Security and Medicare on the chopping block.”

“Haley’s agenda is as extreme as they come,” Hart said.

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