The former political director of the Iowa Republican Party predicted Wednesday that Donald Trump will win the Iowa state caucuses on Feb. 1, a result that likely would be played as an upset given Texas Sen. Ted Cruz’s recent polling strength.

Craig Robinson, founder and editor in chief of The Iowa Republican, said the race it tight.

Close

“I know I’m out there,” he said. “I think Trump’s gonna win Iowa. I think it’s going to be really close, but I think Trump pulls it out.”

Trump got a boost on Tuesday with an endorsement from former GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. While the former Alaska governor might turn off some independent voters in other states, it is net plus in Iowa, said Robinson.


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“Trump has this unique ability to engage people who are not necessarily participating in the political process … Sarah Palin might work against that a little bit,” he said. “But again, I think you have to look at the time frame in which this is happening. I think the Sarah Palin endorsement is about Iowa, getting though Iowa, and not necessarily — I don’t think we’re going to see Sarah Palin front and center at Trump events for a prolonged period of time.”

Robinson said Palin might be useful to Trump in some Southern states.