[ applause ] good evening. welcome to iowa where in just 34 days, caucus goers here will cast the very first votes of the 2024 presidential race. we are live at grand view university in des moines for cnn s town hall with florida governor ron desantis. i m jake tapper. right now, the presidential hopefuls are furiously campaigning to win over republicans here in iowa. it s a state that can make or break presidential candidates. governor desantis has visited all 99 of iowa s counties. he won the endorsement of the state s popular governor, kim reynolds. but he is facing steep competition from his rivals, including former president donald trump. tonight s event is about the voters. governor desantis will have the opportunity to answer questions directly from the people in the room on the issues that will help them determine who wins the republican nomination. i will have questions of my own. this is not an interview. this is a town hall. the audience are voters who plan to pa
[applause] good evening and welcome to iowa, where in just 34 days, caucus goers here will cast the very first votes of the 2024 presidential race. we are live at grand view university and des moines for cnn s town hall, with florida governor ron desantis. i am jake tapper. and right now, the presidential hopefuls are furiously campaigning to win over republicans here in iowa, it s a state that can make or break presidential candidates. governor desantis has visited all 99 of iowa s counties, and he won the endorsement of the state s popular governor, kim reynolds. but, he is facing steep competition from his rivals including the republican front runner, former president donald trump. tonight s event is about the voters. governor desantis will have the opportunity to answer questions directly from the iowans in this room, on the issues that will help them determine who wins the republican nomination. i will have some questions of my own, but this is not an interview, th