President Donald Trump officially accepted the nomination for re-election at the Republican National Convention this past week, which saw Iowa political leaders speak in his support.

Guthrie County Republicans Chair Paul Hawkins says he thinks both the Democratic and Republican conventions have done a good job of firing up their voters, and he thought President Trump and First Lady Melania both gave good speeches. Governor Kim Reynolds and Senator Joni Ernst gave remarks, which mentioned the President’s response to the August 10th derecho storm and the 2019 flooding of the Missouri River, as well as his actions on trade policy and agriculture. Hawkins comments on the Iowa politicians speaking on a national stage, “I think that’s very exciting for Iowa especially with the possibility of our ‘first in the nation’ in the air again. Anytime Iowa can get on the map is a good thing for all Iowans, farmers, everyone in Iowa, anytime we can get on the map because sometimes we’re just flyover country and when we can get our voices heard is a very good thing.”

Hawkins referred to the threat of Iowa being removed from being the traditional first-in-the-nation presidential caucus, given the reporting issues from the Democratic caucus last January. Hawkins adds he believes the biggest issues that the nation has to face heading into the general election is the economy and the current pandemic.