CLARENCE, Iowa — Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is making a play for GOP caucusgoers who are still enthusiastic about former President Donald Trump, making the case that the former president can not win the general election because he is “wounded.”
Ramaswamy’s comments on the stump come as he is doing a complex balancing act, praising the former president and his accomplishments while also suggesting that he could be the better option to carry forward Trump’s “America First” agenda.
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“When we rally behind the pride of Make America Great Again, we did not just hunger for a single man, we hunger for the unapologetic pursuit of excellence in this country,” Ramaswamy said, speaking Saturday afternoon at a Cedar County town hall.
“I respect the heck out of [Trump], he was the right guy in 2016, and I respect the heck out of what he did for this country, but if you think they are going to let him get anywhere near that White House again, I’m going to ask you to open your eyes and not fall into that trap,” he said, alluding to the numerous investigations into the former president and the 14th Amendment challenges to his ballot access in some states.
“If you want a general in this war, pick a general with fresh legs that is not yet wounded in that war,” Ramaswamy added.
The entrepreneur and first-time candidate has intensified his criticism of the former president in recent days, specifically his focus on building a southern border wall. During his 2016 campaign, Trump promised over and over again in public remarks that Mexico would pay for the entire wall. While some of the wall was built, Mexico did not pay for it.
“Build the wall, this and that, that doesn’t get done, and even if it does get done, they build cartel-financed tunnels,” Ramaswamy said at the town hall. “Fix the problem, as commander in chief, send the troops to the border.”
In December’s Iowa poll, Ramaswamy had 5% support from likely Republican caucusgoers. More recent polling data also show Ramaswamy still in the single digits.
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Ramaswamy, who has been barnstorming the state and just completed two “full Grassleys” ahead of the caucus, attempted to make the case that the polls were not accurately reflecting reality.
“The polls only show those who have caucused in the past,” he said. “Most of our supporters are first-time caucusgoers. We are going to deliver a shock on Jan. 15.”
