ELDRIDGE, Iowa — With the Iowa caucus coming up on Jan. 15, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis made another visit to the Quad Cities area.
The Republican presidential candidate stopped in Eldridge at Cody Road Coffee to meet voters. The Dec. 3 rally attracted supporters from both sides of the river after Gov. DeSantis completed a campaign promise to visit all 99 counties in Iowa.
"DeSantis has our vote because of the morality -- he is a very moral person," Illinois voter Dave Wilson said, who drove up from Monmouth with his wife Mary. "I think if he continues to draw the support and get out there, and does what he does, I think we'll be in good shape."
Bettendorf voter Tom Gizicki said the 2024 election will be the most important one in his lifetime. "His administration will pick up some pretty good leaders for our country, and we need to make that change now," Gizicki said. "His service to our country, which we haven't had that since President Bush — I think that means a lot for a leader of our country."
The coffee shop was filled with supporters and local and national media. In his speech, DeSantis criticized President Joe Biden and California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
On policies, he promised to put more restrictions on some school curriculums and reinforce the U.S.-Mexico border. "We're gonna declare the border to be a national emergency on day one. We're gonna marshal all available resources, including our U.S. military," Gov. DeSantis said.
DeSantis is expected to be at the fourth Republican primary debate on Dec. 6 in Alabama.