Vivek Ramaswamy says college students, new Republicans vital to his Iowa caucus performance

AMES — Vivek Ramaswamy, an Ohio biotech entrepreneur running for the Republican presidential nomination, said he expects a diverse coalition of college students and first-time Republicans to power his results on caucus night in January.

Ramaswamy, who has branded his campaign as a “1776 moment” and speaks about unifying voters around “America First” ideas, is holding a series of “Free Drinks and Free Speech” events at college campuses this weekend as he hopes to engage a segment of voters who don’t generally show up to caucus.

Halloween revelers dressed as construction workers and founding fathers sipped on beer in a crowded Ames college bar where Ramaswamy spoke on Friday. After making short remarks he took questions, shook hands and snapped photos with the mostly college-age crowd.

In his campaign’s phone banking and events, Ramaswamy said he’s reached a segment of voters that don't have a history of caucusing — including college students, independents and libertarians.

“A significant number of them have never participated in a caucus before,” he told reporters on Friday. “So if they come out, we will deliver a mass surprise result in this state, because none of them get polled.”

If they don’t show up to caucus on Jan. 15, Ramaswamy cautioned, his campaign may not do as well.

Iowa strategy

Ramaswamy said he thinks he will do well in Iowa because he sees his campaign as more authentic than the campaigns being run by his main challengers.

Former President Donald Trump is the clear front-runner in recent Iowa polling, commanding support of around half of Iowa Republicans. Ramaswamy is trailing behind Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley in polling in Iowa and other early primary states. He has taken around 5 percent of support in recent Iowa polls, on par with South Carolina U.S. Sen. Tim Scott.

In an interview after the event Friday, Ramaswamy eschewed the TV advertising that has been placed by super PACs aligned with Trump, DeSantis and others, and said his strategy is to hold in-person events and engage voters.

Ramaswamy is receiving ad support funded by a super PAC aligned with him, American Exceptionalism PAC, though not at the same levels as Trump, DeSantis, Haley and others. He had received $4.6 million in national ad support as of Sept. 27, according to AdImpact, including $1.6 million in Iowa.

“We’re betting on the old-fashioned approach of doing the Iowa caucus, on the ground up through in person events, much more so than just using TV advertising as a way to do it,” he said.

Ramaswamy, who has billed his campaign as a “national revival,” said younger people are looking for a sense of purpose and meaning that is not being offered by any of the other presidential candidates. At 38, Ramaswamy is the youngest in the GOP field.

“If we’re living in a 1776 moment, as I believe we are, I think it’s going to take somebody from a different generation to lead this country forward as well,” he said.

Confronting Joni Ernst

In a video first reported by NBC News Friday, Ramaswamy confronted Iowa U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst on recent criticism she made of his position on Israel.

Ramaswamy, who has broken from the mainstream GOP in recent weeks on his reaction to the Israel-Hamas war, said he felt the need to challenge Ernst publicly to make her aware of his views and so he could be aware of hers.

“Many politicians in that situation would maybe air their disagreements with somebody else behind closed doors than having it out through a respectful discussion in person,” he said in an interview. “I prefer respectful face-to-face discussion.”

Ramaswamy has said the U.S. should not provide aid to Israel without the country presenting clear objectives for its operations in Gaza, drawing criticism from fellow candidates and other GOP officials. In a New Hampshire forum this month, Ernst applauded candidate North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum’s criticisms of Ramaswamy and made her own critiques, according to NBC News.

In a tense exchange after a fundraiser in Iowa City, Ramaswamy told Ernst she “might want to understand my Israel policy before commenting.”

Ernst said in the video she is not fully supportive of a ground invasion in Gaza, but that “we need to pound the hell out of Hamas.”

“...don’t make assumptions about where I am either,” Ernst told him.