Ron DeSantis, former ambassador Nikki Haley, and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy found themselves in a different setting on Friday as they sat down in front of a large crowd of social conservative voters at a presidential forum in Des Moines, Iowa. The forum, hosted by The Family Leader, an influential social conservative group, showcased the three candidates' efforts to win over Iowa voters ahead of the state's caucuses in January.

DeSantis, who has been trailing behind former President Donald Trump in the polls, expressed confidence in his ability to win in Iowa. "We're going to win here. We have what it takes," he declared in an interview with Fox News. DeSantis has been heavily focused on Iowa, building up a strong ground game with the help of his campaign and the DeSantis-aligned super PAC Never Back Down. His efforts paid off when he secured the endorsement of popular Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds earlier this month.

However, Haley, who has been gaining momentum in recent months, is determined to give DeSantis a run for his money in Iowa. She has leapfrogged him for second place in New Hampshire and her home state of South Carolina. "We're going to keep working hard to win every Iowan's vote. We're not going to give up on Iowa," Haley asserted in a separate interview with Fox News.

Haley's campaign has received a boost with over 70 new endorsements in Iowa, and she is set to launch a $10 million ad blitz in Iowa and New Hampshire in the coming weeks. She is focused on reaching every voter and is not concerned with a specific finish in Iowa. "We're not going to stop until we get every single person's vote. That's the focus," Haley emphasized.

The battle between DeSantis and Haley for second place in Iowa has caught the attention of social conservative leader Bob Vander Plaats, president and CEO of The Family Leader. Vander Plaats, who is likely to endorse one of Trump's rivals, believes that Trump is beatable in Iowa. "It's getting smaller and smaller," he said, referring to the winnowing of the GOP field. Vander Plaats noted that Trump's support in the polls is below 50% and could be as low as 35% by the time of the caucuses.

Vander Plaats' endorsement is highly sought after, and both DeSantis and Haley hope to secure it. DeSantis expressed his desire for the endorsement, stating, "We would love that endorsement...I think after this forum, that may be a time when they want to dig in." Haley, on the other hand, is focused on meeting with voters and answering their questions about her policy positions. She believes that endorsements can shine a light on a campaign, but ultimately, it is up to the candidate to seal the deal.

The Family Leader presidential forum in Des Moines briefly faced an interruption when a climate protester shouted, "Repent!" The incident highlighted the ongoing debates and divisions within the Republican Party and the challenges that candidates face in appealing to different segments of the electorate.

As the race for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination heats up, Iowa remains a critical battleground for the candidates. With just under two months until the caucuses, the candidates are working tirelessly to secure endorsements, win over voters, and differentiate themselves from their rivals. The outcome in Iowa will set the stage for the rest of the primary season, and the candidates are leaving no stone unturned in their pursuit of victory.