Ten minutes before Vivek Ramaswamy was to take the stage in a dated casino hotel in western Iowa, no one was in the conference room except for two staffers from the Iowa GOP, which organized the event, and a group of journalists.

Guests started trickling in at the time the event was scheduled. By the time Ramaswamy began his remarks an hour later, there were about 60 people.

While Ramaswamy is packing his schedule with stops across Iowa, he has failed to move up in the 2024 Republican primary race and is increasingly at risk of becoming an afterthought. He is polling in the mid to high single digits and has left critics asking what his endgame is or if he is staying in the race only to boost former President Donald Trump.

Ramaswamy is falling behind just as the GOP campaign enters the critical final weeks before the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 15. After an earlier flurry of attention, the 38-year-old biotech entrepreneur and first-time political candidate is gaining more notice for his provocations in debates than for signs that his campaign is resonating with voters.

    • logicbomb@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      It’s possible that his intention is simply to build up enough name recognition to be an effective grifter.

      That seems to be the main goal of top level Republicans today. They have access to the most gullible base of people in America, and they want whatever little remains in those people’s pockets.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        I think he’s aiming for a job in Trump’s cabinet. He has praised Trump and Trump has held back from attacking him.

      • Telorand@reddthat.com
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        1 year ago

        Just when I think that well can’t possibly give more, they manage to bleed those stones.

        Then again, maybe that’s why the various billionaires are starting to abandon them; must be tiring to carry a bunch of gullible, broke idiots.

    • HuddaBudda@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      I am sad to say it, but I think Vivek is slowly coming to that same conclusion.

      You see him try so hard to be an extreme candidate, but he doesn’t hold a candle to Trump.

      Or to the charismatic wet noodle that is Ron DeSantis.