It was supposed to be a big weekend for Republican voters in Iowa. Both Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis were scheduled to hold big events. The weather didn’t cooperate, though, and the outdoor Trump rally was cancelled due a tornado watch and rain on Saturday.

At least 18 tornadoes were reported across Iowa on Saturday. The presence of both of the top contenders for the Republican nomination for president in Iowa was greatly anticipated, with many Iowans hoping to see both candidates. It was not meant to be. DeSantis held an event in Sioux Center with U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra on Saturday and an event in Cedar Rapids with the Iowa Republican Party. DeSantis hasn’t offically entered the race but some voters are torn between supporting the two frontrunners.

During his last Iowa trip to Davenport, Trump said DeSantis’ voting record on ethanol and Social Security would cost him the 2024 Iowa caucuses.

But several people who came to the Trump rally said they were also considering supporting DeSantis or would vote for him over a Democratic opponent if he won the Republican presidential nomination. Fletcher said she considered heading up to Cedar Rapids to see DeSantis, but that she hoped to hear from Trump and experience a Trump rally live.

“I knew this took precedence for me,” Fletcher said. “But yeah, in the back of my mind, I’m like, ‘I wish (I could see DeSantis). But yeah, I just wanted to see (Trump) come out, first I wanted to see him dance, and then … I’ve listened to him so much, but I don’t know, just something about the environment I really wanted to experience.”

Politico called it “the Thrilla In Vanilla” but, you know, it’s Politico. They are busy cheerleading for Joe Biden.

DeSantis took advantage of Trump’s cancellation and added a late Saturday night surprise stop at Jethro’s, a Des Moines barbeque spot that is located close by the park where Trump was to hold his rally. That would have given those Trump rally attendees who also wanted to see DeSantis a shot at doing that. NBC News noted what DeSantis didn’t talk about to his audience.

DeSantis, seizing on Trump’s absence, hurriedly scheduled an unannounced stop late Saturday at Jethro’s, a Des Moines barbecue joint a stone’s throw from the park where Trump had planned to hold his rally. Roughly 100 DeSantis supporters packed the restaurant’s patio and the sidewalk outside to take pictures, shake hands and hear him give a short version of his stump speech.

Hopping up on a table with his wife, Casey DeSantis, to address the crowd, DeSantis hinted at what was obvious from his two visits this year to the state that holds the first Republican primary contest: He will soon make his candidacy official.

Arguing that Florida and Iowa are sources of hope for voters because Republican governors have been able to implement their agendas, DeSantis said, “We’re going to have a chance pretty soon to make sure that’s done in every state in this country.”

But DeSantis, who is on the verge of triggering campaign finance requirements for making his bid official, declined to say definitively that he will run — or answer questions about abortion and whether, like Trump, he would be inclined to pardon people convicted in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.

Liberals in the media who are counting on Trump being the GOP nominee can try to ding DeSantis as though he is avoiding issues but the truth is that he doesn’t have to get into every tricky issue right now. He hasn’t declared his candidacy. He can let his campaign kick-off speech be a vehicle for his policy positions on all the issues, if he gets in. Trump is trying to defend his incumbency of sorts, so he is throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks. Voters aren’t responding well to his personal attacks on DeSantis and that has surprised the former president.

By most reports, DeSantis had a good weekend in Iowa. To put a little icing on the cake, the Des Moines Register ran an op-ed on Sunday written by leaders of the Iowa Legislature. They endorsed DeSantis for president. “In our view, no one comes close to DeSantis’ record and resolve. He has won the biggest fights in Florida, and he’s brought all Floridians along while doing it.”

As Americans, we respect those who earn their keep. Since our country’s founding, we’ve valued hard work and excellence. Americans prize those with a track record of success, and Republicans believe in merit as an ideal to be upheld — not as something to worry about, as many on the left see it.

It’s that belief in merit that’s behind our endorsement of Governor DeSantis. Simply put, he’s proven himself a shining example of conservative leadership, and he has accomplished an ambitious agenda that’s propelled his state forward.

DeSantis is heralded for his leadership in Florida during the pandemic. And for his stellar session in the Florida Legislature this year. His record of conservative legislative successes is unmatched. The Iowa leaders say that the country needs the kind of leadership DeSantis can provide on a national level.

More recently, he has been resolute on vital issues such as school choice, tort reform, and parents’ rights — mirroring many of the same successes we have accomplished here in Iowa. He has taken on entrenched interests and vicious opponents — and won battle after battle. In the recent legislative session, he and the Florida Legislature passed what might rank as the most comprehensive conservative agenda in the country.

What is the net effect of all this effort? Florida has grown its state population. It’s the number one state in the country for economic growth and new business creation. It has historically low unemployment, well below the national average. And it has the lowest per capita state tax and state debt burden among large states.

The importance of DeSantis’ solid victory in his re-election campaign was noted. He won by 20 points against a former GOP governor. The op-ed also notes other candidates that are running for the 2024 nomination. None of them come close to DeSantis’ resolve and record, though. He brings all along with him in his victories. That is important – the winning candidate in 2024 has to be able to secure independent voters. We know that polling shows independent voters have left Trump.

“He is the kind of conservative leader we can all be proud of — and that’s why we’re proudly supporting his candidacy for president.” The op-ed was written by State Sen. Amy Sinclair, the Iowa Senate president, and Rep. Matt Windschitl, the Iowa House majority leader.

Trump still draws big crowds for his rallies but DeSantis is off to a good start, at least in Iowa.