Top evangelical could bury Trump's chance to win first major step to nomination: report

According to a report from Fox News, Iowa's most prominent evangelical leader could put a major crimp in Donald Trump's ability to win that state's GOP caucus that's regarded as the first major step to gaining the Republican Party's 2024 presidential nomination.

For the moment, Bob Vander Plaats who heads up The Family Leader, a powerhouse conservative organization in the state, is withholding his endorsement — and he recently suggested the former president is faltering in the polls.

As Fox's Paul Stein Hauer wrote, "Noting that the former president's under 50% support in the latest polls in Iowa, Vander Plaats predicted that Trump's backing might be as low as 35% by the time of the Jan. 15 caucuses."

As Vander Plaats explained, "You’re seeing the field naturally coalesce. It’s getting smaller and smaller," before adding, "There’s definitely a shot that the former president can be beat here."

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The report goes on to note that Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) was given a boost in Iowa with the endorsement of Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) and that Vander Platts said he would take it into consideration before he makes his won endorsement, possibly before Christmas.

"It will weigh in on my discernment. But that won’t make my endorsement," he explained.