Campaign Almanac: Another poll in Iowa, another big lead for Trump

Former President Donald Trump leads the field of Republican presidential candidates at 44 percent, while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley are each at 17 percent, according to a new poll from an Iowa-based advocacy group for agricultural interests.

The poll was commissioned by Fields of Freedom, which is run by Jake Swanson, a former energy policy adviser to Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds.

The poll was conducted by Arc Insights, which surveyed 800 likely Iowa Republican caucus participants from Nov. 9 through Nov. 14, using calls to landlines and mobile phones, and texts. The poll’s margin for error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

Veterans group endorses 3rd District Democrat

VoteVets Political Action Committee endorsed Lanon Baccam, a Democrat running to unseat Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn in Iowa's 3rd Congressional District.

Baccam is a former U.S. Department of Agriculture official and Iowa National Guard veteran.

Baccam is the son of Tai Dam refugees from Laos and a native of Mount Pleasant who now lives in Des Moines. He joined the Iowa National Guard at 17 and deployed to Afghanistan in 2004 as a combat engineer, focusing on explosive demolitions and force protection in and around Kandahar.

While at the USDA, Baccam worked to support training and entrepreneurship opportunities for veterans transitioning to careers in agriculture.

VoteVets, according to its website, seeks to elevate the voices of veterans and military families “through progressive legislative policies and electoral endorsements that impact the lives of active service members, veterans and the country.”

Melissa Vine, a Democrat and nonprofit leader from Des Moines, has also announced her candidacy for Iowa’s 3rd district U.S. House seat. A third Democrat, Des Moines therapist Tracy Limon, also has filed to enter the race but has not made a public announcement.