Post by pavel on Jan 18, 2016 14:49:52 GMT -6
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- It's the No. 1 question headed into the primary season: Does Donald Trump merely have fans, or does the national front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination have voters who will mobilize come caucus day?
The definitive answer won't arrive until first-to-vote Iowa heads to the polls on Feb. 1, but interviews with dozens of voters, political operatives, party leaders and campaign volunteers in the past week paint a mixed picture of Trump's efforts to make sure they do.
Even some of the billionaire real-estate mogul's most ardent backers wonder whether the political novice has the kind of ground game needed to ensure supporters - especially those new to taking part in a caucus - can navigate a process that isn't as easy as casting a ballot.
But many believe that even if Trump is falling short when it comes to building a get-out-the-vote effort, his supporters are so enthusiastic that it won't much matter.
Read more: hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_GOP_2016_TRUMP_IOWA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-01-18-11-29-47
The definitive answer won't arrive until first-to-vote Iowa heads to the polls on Feb. 1, but interviews with dozens of voters, political operatives, party leaders and campaign volunteers in the past week paint a mixed picture of Trump's efforts to make sure they do.
Even some of the billionaire real-estate mogul's most ardent backers wonder whether the political novice has the kind of ground game needed to ensure supporters - especially those new to taking part in a caucus - can navigate a process that isn't as easy as casting a ballot.
But many believe that even if Trump is falling short when it comes to building a get-out-the-vote effort, his supporters are so enthusiastic that it won't much matter.
Read more: hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_GOP_2016_TRUMP_IOWA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-01-18-11-29-47