If you're from outside of Iowa don't go to Ames for the straw poll

I'm going to Iowa. I don't care if I have to sit a mile away by my car and hold a sign so the people driving in can see it, IM GOING. Also, I'm coming from Springfield, Mo so if any of those people from KC or anywhere in that region need a ride let me know. [email protected]
 
I plan on donating instead. I would love to be there, but the gas cost too much to drive there.
 
"Apparently the state of Iowa GOP has changed the rules this year to avoid people from out-of-state to have any access to the straw poll"

Again, I'd like to know how they intend to pull this off.
 
"Apparently the state of Iowa GOP has changed the rules this year to avoid people from out-of-state to have any access to the straw poll"

Again, I'd like to know how they intend to pull this off.

Rules will be finalized July 23.
 
Gentlemen and ladies.

I have no idea if the GOP is literally going to bar and chain your way into the event, however as I have stated, the way the event is set up there really is very little someone from out of state can accomplish. And depending on how the rules are finalized, perhaps even less they will be able to attend.

I've gotten a great deal of genuine questions of, "How can I best help Ron Paul if I live out of state?"

And my answer now is the same as it has been:

Please do the things that will help Ron Paul the most, not help yourself the most. There are certain things that will have a tremendously greater effect on the event. Signing up for our phone banks and donating to the Iowa efforts are THE most effective ways to help Ron.

Without question these two aspects will allow us to identify more supporters, reach out to them via phone, mail and email, and encourage them to come to Ames and vote for Ron in the Straw Poll.

As much as waving a sign and shouting, "Ron Paul" may be enjoyable, it is a tactic that has a very low success rate for convincing a voter. Mail, phones, and other methods have greater value. And also depending on the person that is waving the sign and shouting, it could also have a negative effect on the average straw poll attendee.

If you are from out of state and thinking of traveling to Iowa for the Straw poll, there truly is not that much that you'd be able to do. We've gone over the logistics and we are fully staffed on volunteers. Also any time and money that you spend would have been 10 times more effective if you helped us make phone calls, spread the word via facebook, or donated to our Iowa projects.

Also, the culture is quite often that Iowans don't like the idea of out of staters traveling here to tell them who to vote for. It's the Iowa Straw Poll and the first in the nation caucus. Many Iowans simply are not found of groups from out of state trying influencing their event.

There are going to be those who are going to do what they want to do regardless of what I say. Such is life when dealing with liberty minded individuals.

However if you genuienly want to help Ron Paul, and your #1 priority above everything else is to give him all of the tools necessary to be successful in this event and the continuing campaign, then would I ask those who do not live or go to school in Iowa to use their time and money to help Ron Paul's efforts here in Iowa, instead of traveling from afar to attend the event.

Thanks as always.
 
Just so you know, this is the sort of thing Rand had to put up with, and it was effective, even though he overcame it:

h xxp://wfpltheedit.wordpress.com/2010/03/18/where%E2%80%99s-that-kid-from-kentucky/

h xxp://www.bluebluegrass.com/2010/03/19/rand-paul-busses-in-out-of-state-supporters-for-rally/

Now, this was completely unfair coverage because Rand had tons of local tea party support, but there was a spring break canvassing effort by YAL from all over, and these kids had just arrived in a group, and Rand swept them to this rally. But it does impact the thinking of some, and when his fundraising numbers then also had donations from out of state, they started a meme with it.

I know if anyone went they'd be aiming to blend in and charm people, but these kids were charming too, so you know. (They even clapped politely when Trey Grayson spoke; now that's manners!)

They are going to be having rallies and are going to really need people to attend to just show how out and out popular Ron is. In fact they cancelled one I understand they were going to reschedule. That is the kind of event we can and should take over, because it will be ours.

Anyhow, people will do what they will do, and I know if they go I'll be the first to want pictures and updates. I just wanted to show they have reason to ask what they are asking.
 
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"there really is very little someone from out of state can accomplish. And depending on how the rules are finalized, perhaps even less they will be able to attend."

Steve,

What rules is the party proposing which are different than they've done in previous straw polls?
 
So.. What if someone is an Iowa student who lives out of state? Are they able to vote???
 
Yes if you are out of state but attend a school in Iowa you can vote. Steve I don't think it'd be a bad idea sending out an e-mail stating the campaigns position on this. I've spoken to several people who don't belong on this board who are saying the opposite. I understand it's frustrating but this is the beauty of the grassroots sometime. Let's all get on the same page and win this thing!
 
So.. What if someone is an Iowa student who lives out of state? Are they able to vote???

Absolutely but they have to bring their student ID, people will have to show picture ID showing they are a resident or student there to vote.
 
Gentlemen and ladies.

I have no idea if the GOP is literally going to bar and chain your way into the event, however as I have stated, the way the event is set up there really is very little someone from out of state can accomplish. And depending on how the rules are finalized, perhaps even less they will be able to attend.

I've gotten a great deal of genuine questions of, "How can I best help Ron Paul if I live out of state?"

And my answer now is the same as it has been:

Please do the things that will help Ron Paul the most, not help yourself the most. There are certain things that will have a tremendously greater effect on the event. Signing up for our phone banks and donating to the Iowa efforts are THE most effective ways to help Ron.

Without question these two aspects will allow us to identify more supporters, reach out to them via phone, mail and email, and encourage them to come to Ames and vote for Ron in the Straw Poll.

As much as waving a sign and shouting, "Ron Paul" may be enjoyable, it is a tactic that has a very low success rate for convincing a voter. Mail, phones, and other methods have greater value. And also depending on the person that is waving the sign and shouting, it could also have a negative effect on the average straw poll attendee.

If you are from out of state and thinking of traveling to Iowa for the Straw poll, there truly is not that much that you'd be able to do. We've gone over the logistics and we are fully staffed on volunteers. Also any time and money that you spend would have been 10 times more effective if you helped us make phone calls, spread the word via facebook, or donated to our Iowa projects.

Also, the culture is quite often that Iowans don't like the idea of out of staters traveling here to tell them who to vote for. It's the Iowa Straw Poll and the first in the nation caucus. Many Iowans simply are not found of groups from out of state trying influencing their event.

There are going to be those who are going to do what they want to do regardless of what I say. Such is life when dealing with liberty minded individuals.

However if you genuienly want to help Ron Paul, and your #1 priority above everything else is to give him all of the tools necessary to be successful in this event and the continuing campaign, then would I ask those who do not live or go to school in Iowa to use their time and money to help Ron Paul's efforts here in Iowa, instead of traveling from afar to attend the event.

Thanks as always.

Thank you Steve,

Can you please post this at Daily Paul too.

Thanks
 
As much as waving a sign and shouting, "Ron Paul" may be enjoyable, it is a tactic that has a very low success rate for convincing a voter. Mail, phones, and other methods have greater value. And also depending on the person that is waving the sign and shouting, it could also have a negative effect on the average straw poll attendee.

It could also have a negative effect.

That is something to think about.

On other threads, there was discussion of the grassroots securing an area, a room, a venue for a number of different purposes. One of the purposes was to corrall Ron Paul supporters who are inappropriate.

I was wondering if the Ron Paul official campaign does have a method to reduce the negative effect of out of state, inappropriately behaving Ron Paul supporters?

I also think there should be "appropriate conduct for Ames Straw Poll attendees" typed out somewhere.

Do not think that we want you to be doing any campainging for Ron Paul. This is not a good time for out of staters to talk to Iowans about end the fed. This is not the time for chanting. Or covering yourself with Ron Paul logoage.

If you're from out of state, you are there as a spectator. No silly stunts. Try to dress like an Iowan. Do Iowans wear plain white T's?

It is possible, but unlikely, that there could be a staging area, or a concert, or something, that you could be put to "work" with. That remains to be seen.
It wouldn't be work that is needed, it's more like make work.
 
Gang members wear plain white Ts. Iowans wear regular clothes.

And where do you fit in with the campaign parocks? I'm referring to the 'we' language. Is this somehow from the campaign? Because it is worded pretty harshly.
 
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I'm going to Iowa. I don't care if I have to sit a mile away by my car and hold a sign so the people driving in can see it, IM GOING. Also, I'm coming from Springfield, Mo so if any of those people from KC or anywhere in that region need a ride let me know. [email protected]

cool to see Springfield folks on the board, i went to MO State
 
Gang members wear plain white Ts. Iowans wear regular clothes.

And where do you fit in with the campaign parocks? I'm referring to the 'we' language. Is this somehow from the campaign? Because it is worded pretty harshly.

Part of what I was saying was a proposed set of rules. That might not have been clear. That is something that the campaign would be saying. Not me saying it as if I was the campaign.

The point is that if the campaign has a clear set of guidelines for out of state people, it's possible that some people - who will be going anyway - will follow those intructions. And that would be a more favorable outcome than if no one knows the right way to behave.
 
Here's the latest on the straw poll from the Des Moines Register. Again there's no mention of any rules changes regarding out-of-state volunteers.

The rules will be finalized later this week. We have to wait and see what happens. This could all be just agi-prop just to keep large groups of out-of-staters from attending (like three busloads of Missourians for example). If the campaign is fully staffed with Iowa volunteers, then I can pay the $30 for my ticket and just be a spectator or write about the scene for my blog.

Each straw poll I've been to has been unique and I'm sure this one will be too.
 
Here's the latest on the straw poll from the Des Moines Register. Again there's no mention of any rules changes regarding out-of-state volunteers.

The rules will be finalized later this week. We have to wait and see what happens. This could all be just agi-prop just to keep large groups of out-of-staters from attending (like three busloads of Missourians for example). If the campaign is fully staffed with Iowa volunteers, then I can pay the $30 for my ticket and just be a spectator or write about the scene for my blog.

Each straw poll I've been to has been unique and I'm sure this one will be too.

your going now anyway;) i want to read your on site blogging:) I want to go just to see it all and i would be undercover;) but i just cannot afford it:( oo well so you gotta go and blog now:)
 
I'm going to Iowa. I don't care if I have to sit a mile away by my car and hold a sign so the people driving in can see it, IM GOING. Also, I'm coming from Springfield, Mo so if any of those people from KC or anywhere in that region need a ride let me know. [email protected]

and while your out there stop everyone that isn't from iowa from attending to;) /sarcasm;)

I thought there were rides and cotton candy and all kinds of kewl stuff to do at this fair? if so people from all over are coming no??
 
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and while your out there stop everyone that isn't from iowa from attending to;) /sarcasm;)

I thought there were rides and cotton candy and all kinds of kewl stuff to do at this fair? if so people from all over are coming no??

The Straw Poll is in Ames, the Iowa State Fair is a 10-day event held in Des Moines.
 
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