Iowa entrance polls show MAGA fans turned out for caucus: Live updates
Donald Trump holds commanding lead over challengers Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy
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Your support makes all the difference.The 2024 Republican candidates are eagerly awaiting the results of the Iowa caucuses on Monday – though if polling tells us anything, it’s that Donald Trump has a predictable commanding lead over the other candidates.
In a survey, conducted by The Des Moines Register, NBC News and Medicom, 48 per cent of potential voters said the former president was their first choice of Republican presidential candidates.
Former UN ambassador Nikki Haley was behind Mr Trump with 20 per cent support followed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis with 16 per cent.
Vivek Ramaswamy had just 8 per cent while only 5 per cent of potential voters said they were still unsure.
Of the survey respondents more than half said they had their minds made up regarding who they would cast their vote for.
But for the 32 per cent who could still be persuaded to support a candidate, the presidential candidates are fighting hard to convince them to join their teams.
Florida House passes bill to lower minimum age to buy a gun
The Florida House of Representatives has passed a bill that would allow 18-year-olds to buy firearms, lowering the previous age minimum of 21.
The Republican-controlled state House passed the controversial measure that would permit 18-year-olds to purchase rifles and shotguns on 1 March in a 76-35 vote. The state Senate has not yet voted on the bill.
According to gun safety group Everytown, federal law mandates someone be at least 21 to buy a handgun from a licensed firearm dealer, however, it only mandates a person to be 18 to buy a long gun — including an assault weapon.
Opponents of the measure cited the 2018 Parkland shooting, in which a 19-year-old shot up Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, killing 17 people and injuring 17 others.
Democratic state Rep Robin Bartleman slammed colleagues, saying “shame on us,” over lawmakers’ decision to “renege” the 2018 law — enacted shortly after the school shooting — that increased the gun-purchasing age to 21.
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Florida House passes bill to lower minimum age to buy a gun from 21 to 18
‘We told the citizens of Florida that we were going to protect them,’ a Democratic state represenative said, ‘Shame on us’
Trump overwhelmingly wins Michigan caucuses
Former President Donald Trump won the Michigan Republican caucuses on Saturday, taking all 39 available delegates.
The caucus handed out 39 out of 55 delegates from Michigan, with the presidential primary won by Mr Trump on Tuesday this week doling out the rest.
Mr Trump won about 68 per cent and 12 out of 16 delegates in the primary, while he dominated the caucuses. In all 13 congressional districts taking part, Mr Trump won between 90 and 100 per cent.
In the first, third, and tenth districts, he got all of the votes cast.
Kristy Whitson from Monroe County told The Detriot News that Mr Trump is the only one who can stop what she said was the country’s leftward shift.
“Do I like his personality? No. Do I like his attitude? No,” she told the paper. “But business-wise, he had the country moving.”
In the 13 caucuses, 98 per cent – 1,575 delegates – backed Mr Trump, while two per cent – 36 delegates – backed former Trump UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, according to unofficial tallies referenced by The News.
Haley boasts of new polling showing her beating Biden by a larger margin than Trump
Trump promises ‘largest domestic deportation operation in American history’
Fetterman blames Hamas for deaths of Palestinians apparently shot by Israeli military
Bevan Hurley reports:
Senator John Fetterman has blamed Hamas for the deaths of more than 100 Palestinians who witnesses say were killed when Israeli forces opened fire as they rushed to get supplies from an aid convoy in Gaza.
The Pennsylvania senator claimed that “Hamas alone owns this calamity” and rejected widespread international condemnation — including from the Biden administration — of the “massacre” in a post on X/Twitter on Friday.
“I reject statements from nations with atrocious human rights records: China, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey,” Mr Fetterman wrote.
“Without a doubt, this is a humanitarian tragedy. Hamas alone owns this calamity. We must demand Hamas free the hostages and surrender — ending suffering, death and chaos.”
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Fetterman blames Hamas for deaths of Palestinian civilians
The Pennsylvania Senator has been an unwavering supporter of the Israeli invasion of Gaza
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