Iowa GOP chair: 2016 voter interest is ‘unprecedented’

The chairman of the Iowa Republican Party said Monday that voter interest in the state’s caucus has reached record highs.

“Phone calls at the Republican headquarters of Iowa are absolutely unprecedented,” Jeff Kaufmann told The Washington Post. “We’re looking at 100 an hour, literally. To compare that, it’s about five or six during normal times and maybe half of that during caucus time.”

{mosads}Kaufmann argued that the unusual surge in attention stems from this election cycle’s huge Republican field.

“Now, obviously, not all of that is tied to Donald Trump” he said of the GOP front-runner.

“There’s also a lot of these calls going to a variety of these candidates. That’s just a sign of the enthusiasm at events and such.”

Kaufmann’s remarks come mere hours before Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucuses Monday evening.

Trump leads the other Republican contenders by about 5 points there, according to the latest RealClearPolitics average of surveys.

The outspoken billionaire refused comment Monday on whether he believes he will win the critical early voting contest.

“I just don’t know,” he said. “I can’t tell you that I think so. [But] we’ve had the biggest crowds, bigger than anybody.”

Trump also admitted he is anxious heading into the first vote cast on his Oval Office bid.

“Well, you have to be a little bit nervous. I like to win [and] I want to win for the country. I don’t want to win for myself.”