In 2014, Ohio native Ramaswamy founded biotechnology startup Roivant Sciences and became wealthy. Ramaswamy attracted national attention with his 2021 book "Woke, Inc.," which views capitalism as an unseen power in politics.
Ramaswamy moved his headquarters from Ohio to Des Moines and told Iowans that his "only chance" was to win Iowa. His alternative pitch: "If I win Iowa, I'm your next president."
The Horizon Events Center hosted Ramaswamy after former President Donald Trump spoke. A standing ovation greeted Trump. Ramaswamy appreciates Trump but believes it takes someone else. “Whose best days in life are still ahead to see a country whose best days are ahead.”
The statement that Ramaswamy made was, "We won't stop until we get this job done." "We will bring this nation back to life. It is my hope that our most wonderful days are still to come. We hope that we will make our founding fathers proud.
Ramaswamy's polished speeches and warning that the country is in decline won him a tiny but devoted following. "Truth" was Ramaswamy's campaign slogan, promising people unpopular but true things while adding conspiracy theories.
His strategy has not garnered poll support. In the latest Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa Poll, released Saturday, 8% of likely Republican caucusgoers say Ramaswamy is their first presidential choice, trailing former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley. It rose 3 percentage points from a December Iowa Poll. Iowa Polls in October and August showed him at 4%.
Ramaswamy ran as a Trump-like "America first" candidate. Ramaswamy declared the campaign "bigger than one man." on Jan. 2. Still, Ramaswamy hard to disassociate from Trump. The Register contacted many of his followers at campaign events who liked Ramaswamy but preferred Trump.
The 72-year-old Charles Voss deliberated at Horizon Events Center. Before the caucus, Ramaswamy sought his vote. When Voss said "DJT"—Donald J. Trump—Ramaswamy encouraged him to reconsider.