Two popcorn tubs could decide the US presidential nominee amid machine distrust
Two popcorn tubs could determine who is named next US presidential nominee as voters in Iowa place their ballots in buckets.
Iowa caucus-goers for the 2024 Republican primary were handed popcorn buckets and notepads as people braved the bone-chilling icy conditions to cast their vote. This peculiar tradition has been a talking point on the Daily Show in 2016, 2018, and 2020. The reason behind the popcorn tub practice remains unclear, however, it seems that Iowa Republicans, known for their criticism of voting machines after the 2020 Trump/Biden election, prefer the simplicity of notepads and plastic buckets.
The Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) is recognised for its efforts in combating voter fraud by identifying deceased or relocated individuals. Despite this, some Republican state leaders, including those in Iowa, have expressed suspicion following online stories questioning ERIC's funding and purpose last year.
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This peculiar tradition has been a talking point on the Daily Show in 2016, 2018, and 2020A similar situation was observed in 2016, with officials placing votes in Cubs buckets. The caucus sparked frontrunner Donald Trump to publish a fiery social media post on his TruthSocial account, launching a scathing attack on his rivals ahead of the Iowa caucus.
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He took aim at Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, and Vivek Ramaswamy as the political landscape gears up for the upcoming battleground. In a post that reflected Trump's unfiltered communication style, he asserted: "Nikki Haley can never win in the General Election because she doesn’t have MAGA, and never will! Ron DeSanctimonious, at least, is MAGA-Lite. Remember, I think MAGA is almost ALL of the Republican Party."
Frontrunner Donald Trump published a scathing attack on his opponents ahead of tonight's caucus (Getty Images)The former president, who remains a prominent figure in the Republican Party, went on to claim that the days of Republicans In Name Only (RINOS) and candidates not aligning with the "America First" agenda are over. He labeled Haley as a "Globalist RINO" and accused her of being backed by groups with interests in Chinese economic growth, specifically mentioning the Charles Koch network.
"It’s not going to happen for her, or DeSanctimonious!" Trump declared in the post. He also dismissed alternative candidates such as Vivek Ramaswamy, suggesting that "Vivek Votes are wasted" and should instead rally behind the "TRUMP" banner.
Candidates Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley at last week's GOP debate (Getty Images)Trump's full post read (sic): "Nikki Haley can never win in the General Election because she doesn’t have MAGA, and never will! Ron DeSanctimonious, at least, is MAGA-Lite. Remember, I think MAGA is almost ALL of the Republican Party. The days of the RINOS and non-AMERICA FIRST candidates are OVER! Nikki is a Globalist RINO, backed by American’s for Chinese Growth, the Charles Koch con job. It’s not going to happen for her, or DeSanctimonious! Vivek Votes are wasted, should come to “TRUMP.” MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!"
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story.
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