GOP hopefuls were stunned at the Roast and Ride in Iowa without Donald Trump

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DES MOINES, Iowa Republican presidential hopefuls kicked off the summer months of campaigning at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on Saturday, offering alternative pitches for their candidacies while refusing to mention Donald Trump, their party that is currently leading the polls, by name.

Eight candidates or potential candidates, from prominent political personalities such as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to relatively unknown GOP businessman Perry Johnson, attending Republican Sen. Joni Ernsts annual Roast and Ride event, delivering mini-stump speeches to win over their party-in-nation caucus-goers first.

For the ride portion of the event, former vice president Mike Pence was the only presidential hopeful to ride a motorcycle with Ernst and hundreds of riders gathered to raise money for the Freedom Foundation of Cedar Rapids, a veterans charity. Pence was wearing a black leather vest with an American flag and his last name embroidered on it.

The road to 2024, it goes through Iowa and, folks, it runs to the Roast and Ride, Ernst declared before introducing the individual candidates for their speeches.

Trump’s notable absence has to some extent internalized the race more broadly. While Ernst invited Trump, the former president and current GOP front-runner has little appetite for sharing the spotlight with his main rivals. (He also indicated he might not participate in the first GOP debates.) A Trump spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.

When asked about Trump’s opting out, DeSantis told reporters: I’m just happy to be here. I love the people here. I think it’s a great event.”

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Some Republican voters said they were not surprised Trump did not attend.

He’s not going to share the stage with everybody, said Amy Wyss, 54. I don’t see this as his kind of event.

The candidates’ speeches relayed shorter versions of their campaign speeches and covered several issues that resonated with key GOP voters, including immigration at the southern border, banning transgender athletes from in women’s sports and attacks on what they regard as the radical left. Although the official and soon-to-be official candidates did not mention Trump by name, the allusions to him and his personality are clear.

Nikki Haley, former UN ambassador under Trump, told attendees it was time for a new generation of leaders and warned: don’t complain about what you get in a general if you don’t play in this caucus.

Pence emphasized that as voters, we must resist the politics of personality, adding that the siren song of populism has unmoored timeless conservative principles. DeSantis reiterated that Republicans need to shake off the culture of defeat that has plagued the Republican Party in recent years.

In comments to reporters, Ernst, a two-term senator who has raised his party profile in recent years, said he did not find it strange that the candidates neglected to mention Trump.

They are clearly vying for the position to be the candidate that will appear in the 2024 general election, Ernst said. They didn’t want to give him a chance here when he wasn’t here to present the case himself. So they make the case for themselves.

The GOP presidential candidates are spending a lot of their time in Iowa, home of the first-in-nation caucus. Trump and DeSantis both made campaign swings here this week, while Sen. Tim Scott (RS.C.) held a town hall Friday in Council Bluffs. And in a sign that Iowa will be central to his presidential bid, Pence is scheduled to officially announce his White House run in Des Moines next week.

A victory in Iowa is no guarantee for Trump, who lost the state to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) in the 2016 cycle but went on to win the nomination and the presidency. And though Iowa doesn’t necessarily indicate who will be the Republican nominee next year, a win in this state by someone other than Trump would allow that candidate to make the case for being the most viable alternative.

Former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson, conservative radio host Larry Elder and tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy also addressed the packed room of several hundred voters.

Many Iowans at the event said they were still undecided, as the candidates engaged in traditional retail politics shaking hands, taking selfies and stopping for ice cream.

I think it’s still shopping for candidates, said Bill Hobson, an attendee from Marshalltown. Holding a stack of fliers handed out by volunteers introducing the various candidates, he said we had three on the shortlist, there was Tim, Nikki, and Ron.

Several Trump supporters said they were open to hearing from others.

I was a huge Trump supporter and may still be, but I really wanted to hear what others had to say. Anyone here is better than what we have, that’s my opinion, said Waukee resident Virginia Stone, wearing an American flag shirt and bejeweled flag cap.

Mike Vestle, a retiree from Marion, said he was leaning toward Haley, but he was blunt in describing his plan to caucus for whoever he believes will best challenge Trump in the crowded field: Ultimately, I’ll support whoever comes out on top in the polls the night before the caucuses that isn’t named Trump.

Several attendees wore hats sporting Trumps signature Make America Great Again motto, while volunteers wore Trump shirts while handing out campaign materials for him. However, some voters said they wish he had shown up.

I was a Trump person but I just dont like all the baggage that happens with Trump, all the negativity and all that, said Wayne Rude, 70. He missed a big opportunity, he ruined it.

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