(Vinton) On his snowy Iowa farm, Lance Lillibridge carries at arm’s length a calf, born just ten days ago. Her name ? “DeSantis”, a nod to the candidate he will choose on Monday against favorite Donald Trump when the Republican primaries kick off.
This 53-year-old farmer, based near the village of Vinton, supported former President Trump during the last two American elections. He refuses to vote a third time for the 77-year-old billionaire, who nevertheless crushes everything in the polls.
“We have the impression that he has let us down,” laments the man in the brown jacket, facing his imposing corn silos, all covered in snow.
PHOTO JIM WATSON, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Lance Lillibridge and his calf “DeSantis”
The operator is keeping in mind Donald Trump’s decisions on bioethanol, a corn-based fuel of which his Midwestern state is the main producer.
On Monday, when Iowa launches the big ball of the Republican primaries, which must nominate the rival of Democratic President Joe Biden, its choice will instead fall on the governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis.
” The man for the job ”
“He is very competent when it comes to agriculture,” judges the farmer, surrounded by his cows, grouped together on a straw mat to keep warm.
“When he learned that I had had a motorcycle accident” in the summer, “he called me to find out how I was,” underlines Lance Lillibridge, brushing aside the recurring criticisms of a supposed lack of charisma on the part of the candidate. republican.
Convinced that this candidate is “the man for the job,” he took the lead of the “Farmers for DeSantis” support group and is working to call the 2,000 farmers he knows to spread the good word.
PHOTO JIM WATSON, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
A photo of Ron DeSantis hangs on the wall at Lance Lillibridge’s house.
A recurring argument: the all-out trade war launched by Donald Trump during his mandate, which weighed on the exports of these Midwestern farmers.
“We lost a lot of money”
2017, 2018 and 2019 – when the United States and China clashed over tariffs – were the “worst years to be a farmer,” says Robb Ewoldt, a farmer from Davenport, 180 kilometers away.
“We lost a lot of money,” denounces the man who also supported Donald Trump during the two previous elections.
PHOTO JIM WATSON, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Robb Ewoldt
After traveling along the Mississippi River, the majority of the quinquagenarian, corn and soybean crops go to Asia or Europe.
If the affable farmer has not renamed any of his 4,000 pigs after Ron DeSantis, he appreciates “the values” of the Florida governor just as much.
“I like the way he managed the pandemic in his state, he kept businesses and schools open,” he emphasizes.
From his shed, the farmer confides that he strongly doubts the dizzying lead with which Donald Trump is credited in Iowa – more than 53% according to polls. His colt Ron DeSantis stagnates around 15%.
“I know a lot of conservatives, and I can’t imagine how half of them are going to vote for Donald Trump,” says Robb Ewoldt.
The verdict will come from 7 p.m. Monday, when Iowa voters will gather in schools, libraries and fire stations across the state to choose their candidate by secret ballot.
Will he support Donald Trump’s presidential candidacy if the former leader comes out on top in the primaries?
The farmer blows.
“We will still go to vote,” he says. “But by holding your nose. »