Bob Vander Plaats, influential Iowa evangelical leader, endorses DeSantis
CBSN
Bob Vander Plaats, an influential evangelical leader in Iowa, endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday, giving his campaign a boost as he goes all in to try to win the first state in the presidential primary cycle.
DeSantis still trails former President Donald Trump in early polling by large margins in Iowa and nationally. But supporters of DeSantis in the faith community point to Vander Plaats' audience and influence to argue that his endorsement, as well as the endorsement from Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, will help DeSantis make inroads with evangelical Christian voters in Iowa who have stuck with Trump since 2016.
Vander Plaats made the announcement during an appearance on Fox News Tuesday night, saying his endorsement was DeSantis' to "lose" after he made repeated overtures, visiting Vander Plaats' organization's office and attending church with him.
