Iowa’s Faith and Freedom Coalition, a leading social conservative group in the leadoff caucus state, has invited 12 Republican presidential prospects to what so far is the first group forum in the state of the 2012 campaign. The event is set for March 7 at a church in a western Des Moines-area suburb.
The group, headed by Republican National Committee member Steve Scheffler of West Des Moines, sent invitations Dec. 31 to Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Texas Congressman Ron Paul, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Indiana Congressman Mike Pence, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, South Dakota Sen. John Thune.
Those 11 often appear on lists of GOP figures weighing 2012 bids. Another, a name increasingly popular in tea party circles, is Herman Cain, the former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza.
Former United Nations Ambassador John Bolton, who has said he is weighing a 2012 campaign, is expected to receive an invitation to the event, although Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition planners had not yet sent one.
The event, at Point of Grace church in Waukee, is being billed as the first such group gathering of 2012 prospects in Iowa, expected to host the leadoff presidential caucuses in a little more than a year. The forum is not a debate, but will afford prospective presidential candidates a chance to make a speech to conservative activists. There is no question and answer session planned for those GOP hopefuls who attend.
Fred Karger, a gay-rights activist and veteran California-based political consultant, complained that he was not invited. Karger has visited Iowa five times, formed a presidential exploratory committee and hired an Iowa campaign staffer.
Scheffler said Karger’s focus on gay rights makes him a marginal candidate. In Iowa, social and evangelical conservatives form the core of the Republican caucus base.
“He’s got one issue and in my opinion that does not make him a serious or legitimate candidate,” Scheffler said.
