Republican strategist Karl Rove believes if Gov. Ron DeSantis's (R-FL) presidential campaign is to have a chance, he needs to have a strong performance in Iowa.

Rove emphasized that with DeSantis pouring significant resources into the Hawkeye State, and since he is behind former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in New Hampshire and South Carolina, he must perform strongly behind former President Donald Trump or win the first-in-the-nation caucus.

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“Iowa is do or die. He’s putting a lot of effort there. He has the governor of the popular governor, Kim Reynolds. He won the support of a key leader in the evangelical community, Vander Plaats,” Rove said during an interview on Fox News's Journal Editorial Report that aired Saturday.

“And yeah, he’s got to run. If he comes in third in Iowa, it’s very problematic for him because it doesn’t get better for him in the next two sets of contests,” he added.

Rove also emphasized that he believes the most likely scenario in Iowa is that Trump finishes in first place with less than 50% of the vote, and either DeSantis or Haley finishes in a strong second place behind him.

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DeSantis has received several high-profile endorsements in Iowa, including from evangelical leader Bob Vander Plaats and Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA).

The RealClearPolitics polling average shows Trump leading in Iowa with 47%, while DeSantis is in second place with 17.3%, and Haley is in third place with 14.3%. The polling averages in New Hampshire and South Carolina show DeSantis in fourth, behind Trump, Haley, and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and third, behind Trump and Haley, respectively. The Iowa Republican presidential caucus is scheduled for Jan. 15, 2024.