their final pitches to voters, including# one coveted group, white evangelicals.
Lisa Desjardins is in Des Moines and sat down with## perhaps Iowa's most recognizable# and influential evangeli LISA DESJARDINS: Bob Vander Plaats is often# called a kingmaker in Iowa politics.
Since 2010,## he's directed the conservative Christian group# The Family Leader, which advocates for what they## see as biblical values in government,# opposing abortion and gay marriage.
Vander Plaats has endorsed the eventual# winner in every Iowa Republican Caucus## since 2008.
In November, he announced his# support for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
I began by asking him why he# made that decision and about## polls that show most Iowa evangelicals# support former Presi BOB VANDER PLAATS, CEO, The# Family Leader: Well, first of all,## wh He took a tossup state like# Florida and turned it deep red,## won by 20 points.
And he did that after leading# on things that are very important to us, whether it's the sanctity of human life, parental# rights, taking on the woke agenda in schools,## in big corporations, keeping Florida open during# COVID, challenging all the mandates during COVID.
You mentioned about the evangelical# support.
My pulse just doesn't line## up with the polls.
We have a very large# base here, and that means every other## person I talk to would have to tell me,# I'm voting Trump.
They're not saying that.
They're appreciative of what he did, but# they believe we need to turn the page to## the next-generation leader.
They believe# we need to find somebody who can win and## lead.
And I think they're skeptical that he's# just not the same guy that he was in 2 LISA DESJARDINS: How well does Governor# DeSantis or Nikki Haley have to do## in order to really make this a race,# have a chance at beating Donald BO B VANDER PLAATS: Well, I think it's# all an expectations game right now.
And everybody's dismissing Governor DeSan Trump will meet the expectations.
I don't believe# Haley will come in second, and I believe Governor## DeSantis will weigh outperform his expectations,# which will give him momentum moving forward I'm even bullish enough to believe he has a# shot to win the Iowa caucuses on Monday night.
LISA DESJARDINS: Should former President Trump# prevail, because he is leading right now,## it seems, could you support him?# Do you think he is a moral man?
BOB VANDER PLAATS: Elections come down to choices.
And so the Trump administration# vers I'd be in that camp of the Trump administration# was way better for families and for our issues And God has always used flawed people# throughout Scripture, whether it was David## or Moses or Abraham.
They all had significant# flaws.
And he used them for his purposes.
So that may be above my pay grade.# But if it's a Trump administration## versus a Biden administration, I don't see# that's going to be a choice for me.
I me for me, that will be an easy choice.
LISA DESJARDINS: You could# choose not to BOB VANDER PLAATS: Oh, n administration over the Biden administration# every da LISA DESJARDINS: Trump is someone# who you yourself have said, parents,## grandparents generally don't want him# to be a role model for their children.
BOB VANDER PLAATS: Big hurdle, there's no doubt.
LISA DESJARDINS: I know yo flawed people.
Every politician is flawed.
Donald Trump, as you say, someone# who doesn't want to be a role model,## I think there's just a disconnect between# the ev family values and supporting -- and, in this# case, you said, if there's no ot you would support him -- someone who you don't# think should be a role model for your children.
BOB VANDER PLAATS: Well, the# disconnect there is right.
I mean, there's no doubt.
I that Donald Trump has is, I have not met a# parent or grandparent yet who wa nt to have their son, daughter,# grandchild grow up to be like him.
That said, I haven't heard anybody say that about# Joe Biden either, and Joe Biden's policies are## way more detrimental to the family than,# say, Donald Trump's record has been for## the family.
So it comes down to a choice.And in# this situation, it's going to be a flawed choice.
You have 75 percent of Americans# who are saying they don't want## the choice between Biden and Trump.# They want somebody different.
Even## heard somebody say the first party that# runs to the next-generation leader wins.
And so I just think, again, let Iowa do its job,# present an alternative to the former president,## and now let America choose.
But I think what I# can do as a faith leader, as well as a parent,## by maintaining my testimony to the Gospel,# is by calling balls and strikes.
Donald Trump## is not my savior.
Can God use Donald# Trump to accomplish good things?
Yes,## he's always used flawed people to# accomplish good things for him.
LISA DESJARDINS: Trump also tapped# into something else, which is anger.
BOB VANDER PLAATS: Sure.
LISA DESJA which is something in the Bible, Jesus# was angry, sure.
But do you think that## evangelicals have changed politics or are# you concerned that politics is changing them?
BOB VANDER PLAATS: I think where# some of the evangelicals even,## say, resonate to a Trump and his# disr LISA DESJARDINS: Anger, sometimes hate.
BOB VANDER PLAATS: Yes, sure.
they're concerned when the government's# telling them that these aren't your children,## these are our children.
If you don't believe# in gender transitioning or if you don't believe## in the LGBTQ movement or if you don't# believe in whatever else we believe in,## you may not be able to raise your children.
That scares a lot of evangelicals.# Or it's not abou You can't live out your faith.
You have# freedom of worship inside your four walls,## but keep it inside your four walls.# You're saying religious liberty is## about living out my faith.
And now you have got# a government saying, I can't live out m That's why I think some evangelicals are going,## listen, they're weaponizing against Trump,# but they if they're going to weaponize against# us, I'm going to stand with him, OK?
But I'm saying, we have a choice right now.
LISA DESJARDINS: Bob Vander Plaats,# thank you so BOB VANDER PLAATS: Oh, thank# you.
Really LISA DESJARDINS: Vander Plaats and everyone# freeze now from Mother Nature, as temperatures# are starting to drop into the single dig And that has meant a freeze on campaigning# as well, with Ron DeSantis postponing four## events today, Nikki Haley moving to all# virtual events, and Vivek Ramaswamy doing## one town hall from inside of a car as he# was trying to get through this weather.
AMNA NAWAZ: Lisa, that winter weather we see you# standing out in the middle of right now, that's## going to make it tougher for folks to travel,# fewer events for them to go to see the candidates.
How is all this going to impact or# could it impact Monday's caucuses?
LISA DESJARDINS: We always wonder about# the weather, but I will tell you that,## right now, this is bad news for# anyone who is not Dona because everyone else needs# to make up ground against him.
And they're not out there campaigning.# They're not as they would have during these two last# critical days.
I think, today it will be harder to get back to a# full campaign, as you normally see.
And it's even more difficult because there are, in# fact, persuadable voters still out here.
a few undecided voters.
We met one last night,# someone who was a Chris Christie supporter.
DOUGLAS ROSS, Iowa Voter: What I like about Chris# Christie is he was a Republican that governed a## Democratic state, so he could reach across aisle# and get things done.
And that's what I want.
Recently, we moved here from Arizona, and# the border is an issue.
So I want somebody## that can actually work with the other side# to get something done that's reasonable.
LISA DESJARDINS: Now, Ross told me# he had not decided yet.
He was at## that DeSantis event.
And we're going to# keep But, meantime, these candidates are# looking for every sort of eyeball,## every vote they can get.
I do think# things will change, Amna, Sunday, Monday,## once this storm system clears.
Believe# it or not, what you're seeing behind me,## this is actually plowed.
Cars are going# to start getting back The question Monday night will be# cold weather.
And that will be a test## of enthusiasm for Trump voters.
Do they think# he has too much of a lea rather than actually show up?
That is the# hope, frankly, of some of his opponents.
AMNA NAWAZ: All right, that is Lisa Desjardins## just outside of Des Moines for us Lisa, thank you.
And be sure to join us for live# co on Monday night starting at 11:00# p.m. Eastern right here on PBS.