Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds is expected to endorse Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in the Republican presidential primary, providing a potential boost for DeSantis' campaign in Iowa. The endorsement is set to take place during DeSantis' campaign events in Des Moines and Davenport on Monday and Tuesday, respectively. Reynolds, who has been a special guest at events for multiple candidates, is seen as a close ally of DeSantis and shares a similar record on issues such as COVID-19. Reynolds had previously appeared at DeSantis' campaign events earlier in the summer, including one event with his wife, Casey DeSantis.

DeSantis has made Iowa a focal point of his campaign, touring all 99 counties and relocating a majority of his campaign staff to the state. However, he still trails former President Donald Trump in early state polling. Trump has criticized Reynolds for appearing close to DeSantis, despite her previous statement that she would not publicly endorse any one candidate in the presidential primary. Reynolds has also spoken out against Trump for criticizing DeSantis' six-week abortion ban.

Reynolds' endorsement is seen as significant due to her popularity among Republicans in Iowa. An August poll by the Des Moines Register found that Reynolds had an 81% approval rating among likely Republican caucus-goers in the state. She has endorsed DeSantis as his campaign trails Trump's, and as he faces competition from Nikki Haley, the former governor of South Carolina and former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, who is also running for the Republican presidential nomination.

However, recent polls still show Trump leading in Iowa. An October poll commissioned by a nonprofit that has hosted events for DeSantis showed Trump with 46% support among likely Iowa GOP caucus-goers, while DeSantis and Haley were tied at 16% each. A late August poll from Trump's super PAC, MAGA Inc., suggested that an endorsement from Reynolds would not be enough for DeSantis to surpass Trump, with Trump receiving 42% support and DeSantis getting 20%.

In response to the endorsement, Trump's campaign released internal polling showing that 72% of Iowa respondents said Reynolds' endorsement would not impact their vote. The campaign criticized Reynolds, suggesting that she does not have any ambition for higher office. However, DeSantis has previously expressed support for Reynolds, defending her against Trump's criticisms and stating that he would consider her as a potential running mate.

The endorsement comes ahead of the third presidential debate on Wednesday in Miami, where DeSantis will try to gain ground on Trump and differentiate himself from Nikki Haley. The DeSantis campaign declined to comment on the endorsement, and a spokesman for Reynolds did not respond to requests for comment. Jason Miller, an adviser to Trump, mocked the endorsement, comparing it to the "Carly Fiorina bounce" - a reference to one of Trump's challengers in the 2016 election.

Reynolds' decision to endorse DeSantis indicates that she believes she can make a meaningful difference in a contest that currently shows Trump with a significant lead. The Iowa caucuses have historically been volatile, with significant movement in the polls as the voting nears.