Florida Governor Ron DeSantis's presidential campaign in Iowa is encountering challenges as recent polls suggest a substantial deficit in support compared to former President Donald Trump. Despite investing significant time and resources in the state, DeSantis faces an uphill battle ahead of the January 15 caucuses.

DeSantis has dedicated a significant portion of his campaign to Iowa, relocating a third of his staff to the state and conducting over 170 events across all of Iowa's 99 counties, according to his campaign. The super PAC supporting DeSantis, "Never Back Down," has embarked on an extensive grassroots operation, knocking on 770,000 doors and securing over 40,000 "commitment to caucus" cards from Iowa voters.

However, according to the latest CBS News poll, DeSantis trails Trump by 36 points in Iowa. The gap in polling numbers has raised concerns among DeSantis's supporters and GOP strategists, especially as rival Nikki Haley, the former U.N. Ambassador, gains an advantage over DeSantis in New Hampshire.

Veteran Iowa-based GOP strategist Dave Kochel expressed frustration, suggesting that DeSantis and other contenders may need to prevent Trump from securing over 50% of the vote to make a viable case for their campaigns. DeSantis himself has been dismissive of polls during his Iowa campaign, focusing instead on urging voters to cast their ballots.

Following a resounding victory in Florida's gubernatorial race in 2022, where he won by a considerably larger margin than in 2018, DeSantis was widely seen as a strong contender to challenge Trump for the GOP nomination. His campaign initially positioned the race as a two-man competition between DeSantis and Trump, confident that they could narrow the field to just the two candidates.

However, DeSantis's campaign has faced internal turbulence, leading to staff layoffs and resignations, including key members of the Never Back Down super PAC. Both the campaign and the PAC are also being investigated by the Federal Election Commission following a complaint filed by the Campaign Legal Center, alleging illegal coordination between the two entities.

While supporters and strategists argue that Iowa is not a "must-win" state for DeSantis, they stress that he must at least come within ten points of Trump to maintain a viable path to the GOP nomination. Republican lawmakers from Iowa, such as State Rep. John Dunwell and Cody Hoefert, emphasize the importance of a strong showing in the caucuses and express confidence in DeSantis's ability to perform well.

DeSantis's campaign deputy campaign director David Polyansky reaffirms the campaign's long-term strategy, noting their filing for ballot access in 19 states after Iowa. Polyansky acknowledges the challenging task of defeating a former incumbent president and hints at an aggressive approach in New Hampshire against Haley.

As the race intensifies, Haley has become the target of attacks in New Hampshire by both Trump's super PAC and a competitor's advertisement. Haley's camp remains unfazed by DeSantis's Iowa-focused strategy, labeling it as short-sighted.

With expectations high for Trump's performance, GOP strategists believe a potential upset in Iowa could undermine his perceived invincibility. However, the road to victory remains tough for DeSantis, who must navigate the coming months and fight for delegates across various states.

In conclusion, Governor Ron DeSantis faces a significant polling deficit in Iowa compared to former President Donald Trump, putting his campaign's viability at risk. Despite his extensive efforts in the state, including endorsements and grassroots operations, DeSantis will need a strong showing in the upcoming caucuses to maintain a viable path toward the GOP nomination.