Florida Governor Ron DeSantis did not make the most of his opportunity to charm Iowa conservatives at a picnic fundraiser in Sioux Center. According to the Associated Press, he "made little effort to connect with voters one-on-one" at the event, which is typically an early stop for presidential candidates trying to build a base among Iowan voters for the all-important primary. This comes amid reports that DeSantis is struggling to gain momentum in the 2024 Republican presidential race, with The New York Times recently citing his inability to capture the same support from donors and allies in politics as former President Donald Trump. DeSantis has yet to formally enter the race, but is expected to do so soon. In the meantime, he has been making moves in his home state, declaring Florida a "citadel of freedom" and promoting his administration's efforts to ban diversity programs and restrict preferred pronoun usage in schools. With Trump planning his own rally in Des Moines, Iowa later today, DeSantis may be in danger of falling further behind in the race for the Republican nomination.