News from Iowa

[Dave]

Most do NOT but say they will as we get nearer the caucus date and definately will for the November elections.


Dave, thanks for the warning and advice. I don't want to get the Ron Paul Campaign or myself in trouble with the FEC. As another person here said, I did , however, CLEARLY say IN WRITING (I am keeping all e-mails) that I was a Meetup Team Leader. I did NOT say that I was with the official Paul Campaign?

Also, I was using the 2nd Congressional District ONLY as a "test market." The results? Got to remebr I am an OLD retired Business Professor.

Quite positive. Every County Chair responded within 24 hours and was glad to have a Ron Paul visitor at their Committee meetings. Everyone was very gracious and helpful. And they NOW have a contact person to send folks who might be interested in supporting Ron Paul. I am NOT a total stranger so I can "drop in" via e-mail, etc. once in a while.

My idea is to trun over contact to a Meetup Group for their County. I am just trying to "break the turf up" so we can more easily plant the seeds and reap the harvest.

I was NOT trying to impinge on anyone elses "turf." I don't have the time even IF I wanted to. The 2nd District is nearest where I live in Nauvoo, IL and is mostly very rural. All my Meetup Members live so far in the 2nd District.

I HOPE A PERSON ON THIS THREADWILL DO THE SAME AS I HAVE IN EVERY OTHER CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. PLEASE REMEBER, WE ARE NOT JUST BUILDING FOR THE AMES STRAW POLL BUT FOR A LONGER TERM RELATIONSHIP WITH GOP COUNTY LEADERS WHEN RON PAUL IS THE GOP NOMINEE

Great work, doctor! The way you follow up on your ideas and actually 'walk the walk' is inspiring. Your words will help me as I approach the central committees in Polk and neighboring counties.

We need some people out of the Omaha and Sioux City meetups to help with western Iowa. It's more sparsely populated but is much more conservative than the rest of Iowa. With Steve King as their congressman I think they will have an easier time warming up to the message of Dr. Paul.

 

[Dave]

Huckabee shooting for 3rd or better in Ames Straw Poll

From today's Des Moines Register:


Mike Huckabee is pinning his hopes for the Republican presidential nomination on a strong showing at the Ames straw poll next month.

"We've got enough money to go through the straw poll, to get through that next major milestone for us," he said Wednesday in a conference call with reporters. "We've never said we have to win the straw poll in order to be considered credible. We've got to do well."

The former Arkansas governor said he'll be satisfied with a third-place finish if there isn't a large gap between the top three finishers.

Recent polls show Mitt Romney has a strong lead among Republican candidates in Iowa. National front-runners Rudy Giuliani and John McCain have said they will skip the Republican Party of Iowa's Aug. 11 fundraiser.

Huckabee didn't disclose how much he's raised during the second quarter of this calendar year, saying only that it's better than the first quarter's $540,000. Romney garnered $21 million in contributions during the first quarter.

In an e-mail to supporters Tuesday, Huckabee said he has three campaign goals to meet by Friday: add 3,000 people to his campaign's mass-mailing list, obtain 400 monetary contributions, and gain 100 more volunteers for the straw poll.

"That's kind of our primary focus in Iowa right now is literally getting people to sign the commitment cards and tell us they'll be there."

Huckabee said his campaign has purchased thousands of tickets for the Ames event to dole out to supporters.

Huckabee is scheduled to visit Sheldon and rural O'Brien County today in northwest Iowa. He had planned to make campaign appearances in Council Bluffs and Mapleton on Tuesday but was held up by bad weather in Chicago.

 

[beermotor]

I think it's make or break for the Huckster. I think he only raised $800k or so. They are likely to throw everything they have at Iowa and hope to prepare the structure for a 2012 run or a VP chance.

 

[Dave]

Busy week in Iowa

The following have all been on the ground in Iowa this week:

Clinton, Obama, Richardson, T. Thompson, Brownback, Edwards, Biden, Romney, Tancredo, and Huckabee.

The Des Moines Register seems to be swooning over Hillary. Then again, they were in support of a 17% local sales tax hike that just got spanked 85% to15% in the polls on Tuesday.

 

[PatriotOne]

The following have all been on the ground in Iowa this week:

Clinton, Obama, Richardson, T. Thompson, Brownback, Edwards, Biden, Romney, Tancredo, and Huckabee.

They should be declaring Iowa a hazardous waste site now after they all visited

 

[tiznow]

Most do NOT but say they will as we get nearer the caucus date and definately will for the November elections.


Dave, thanks for the warning and advice. I don't want to get the Ron Paul Campaign or myself in trouble with the FEC. As another person here said, I did , however, CLEARLY say IN WRITING (I am keeping all e-mails) that I was a Meetup Team Leader. I did NOT say that I was with the official Paul Campaign?

Also, I was using the 2nd Congressional District ONLY as a "test market." The results? Got to remebr I am an OLD retired Business Professor.

Quite positive. Every County Chair responded within 24 hours and was glad to have a Ron Paul visitor at their Committee meetings. Everyone was very gracious and helpful. And they NOW have a contact person to send folks who might be interested in supporting Ron Paul. I am NOT a total stranger so I can "drop in" via e-mail, etc. once in a while.

My idea is to trun over contact to a Meetup Group for their County. I am just trying to "break the turf up" so we can more easily plant the seeds and reap the harvest.

I was NOT trying to impinge on anyone elses "turf." I don't have the time even IF I wanted to. The 2nd District is nearest where I live in Nauvoo, IL and is mostly very rural. All my Meetup Members live so far in the 2nd District.

I HOPE A PERSON ON THIS THREADWILL DO THE SAME AS I HAVE IN EVERY OTHER CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. PLEASE REMEBER, WE ARE NOT JUST BUILDING FOR THE AMES STRAW POLL BUT FOR A LONGER TERM RELATIONSHIP WITH GOP COUNTY LEADERS WHEN RON PAUL IS THE GOP NOMINEE

Us in the iowa city, cedar rapids area have already met and gone to GOP meetings in linn county and johnson county, this sunday we will be in a parade in muscatine county and will be in contact with the GOP in that county as well giving them signs, literature etc to scratch 3 off your list.

 

[beermotor]

Yeah, it worries me that Paul hasn't made many appearances there. I know he's busy, but he's gotta start pounding the states to build the buzz. Meetup people can only do so much.

 

[ARealConservative]

Yeah, it worries me that Paul hasn't made many appearances there. I know he's busy, but he's gotta start pounding the states to build the buzz. Meetup people can only do so much.

That's what I've been thinking.

If he would atually do a bus tour like Huckebee, or hit all 99 counties in Iowa like Tommy Tom Thompson, this straw poll would be so much easier for us meetup guys.

 

[tiznow]

As I understand he will be touring iowa a week before the straw poll, in between the aug 5th debates and aug 11th straw poll. Yes you are right most people I talk to in iowa that seem interested but not on board yet almost always ask when is he going to be in my area. Iowans for the most part like to see the candidates in person and most communties outside the major cities are close and tight knit so the word such as "I met Ron Paul today he made alot of sense" spreads quite rapidly.

Also just as a side note to those trying to help out from outside the state. Please in your endeavors be curtious and try not to be invasive. This is why dean failed in iowa. Iowans don't like to be pushed around, they are very open to listening but don't like the shove it down your throat tactics.

 

[Orat]

I don't think ANYONE likes those tactics. I think Dr. Paul's message sells itself, all we have to do is make the information available. We are basically doing the MSM's job for them since they don't seem willing to do it.

BTW, all you out-of-staters, please see the Operation Hawkeye 1 thread:
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=6563

 

[poppop_schell]

Adopting The Gop Organization In Every Congressional District

Us in the iowa city, cedar rapids area have already met and gone to GOP meetings in linn county and johnson county, this sunday we will be in a parade in muscatine county and will be in contact with the GOP in that county as well giving them signs, literature etc to scratch 3 off your list.

My deepest congratulations and thank yous for doing this. For those who may NOT know it, all three counties are in the 2nd District which I have adopted to keep in contact with over the next 9 months to the caucus.

That said, it must NOT be just a one time contact... must be continious so as to nature the GOP leadership to be favorable or at least neutral towards RP. We don't want any GOP leader to be actively against RP.

 

[Dave]

Huckabee bets it all on Ames Straw Poll

Huckabee is doubling down on the Ames Straw Poll:


Story City, Ia. --- Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee said if he comes
in a distant fourth at the Ames straw poll Aug. 11, he will re-evaluate whether or not to continue his bid for president.

Huckabee has said he wants to place in third or better at the Ames straw
poll.

Recent polls show Mitt Romney has a strong lead among Republican candidates
in Iowa. National front-runners Rudy Giuliani and John McCain have said they
will skip the Republican Party of Iowa's Aug. 11 fundraiser.

Huckabee said if he falls too far behind to a distant fourth, “at that
point, I have to seriously ask, ‘Do we keep going? Do we have the juice in
place like New Hampshire and South Carolina – where we are gaining ground?
But Iowa’s important.’”

“That’s why we’re spending all our time here between now and Aug. 11,” he
added.

Huckabee’s comments came after a campaign appearance in downtown Story City.

 

[FreedomLover]

It seems every has given up on 1st place to concede it to Romney. Does he really have that much of an unsurmontable lead? Im aware hes been spending his millions hard blanketing the state with tv ads and such, but how is the Ron paul organization there? Is it on par with huckabees?

 

[Dave]

It seems every has given up on 1st place to concede it to Romney. Does he really have that much of an unsurmontable lead? Im aware hes been spending his millions hard blanketing the state with tv ads and such, but how is the Ron paul organization there? Is it on par with huckabees?

Huckabee's organization is nothing like Romney's but it is much larger than Ron Paul's. He has 10-12 people and an office in Des Moines (I saw one of the Felons for Huckabee pacing in front of the office the other day. Ha!). Until this week the Iowa staff for Ron Paul was one person (now there are 3).

Many of Huckabee's workers are well-known in Iowa politics. The Iowa chairman is a well-respected former candidate for governor. A lot of the Christian vote seems to be going to Huckabee with Brownback getting a lot as well.

I won't say Romney can't be beat but he has a helluva organization here and he's spent lots of time here and spent money like you can't imagine - mailings, TV commercials, radio commercials, print and online advertising, etc. He has 22 paid staff in Iowa alone. He's clearly the front-runner for Ames by a wide margin.

Romney's support may be broad but we'll see how deep. Support for Ron Paul is always deep but I'm not sure how broad it is yet - there just aren't enough Iowans who know the name Ron Paul.

Everyone wants to win but I'm sure any candidate except Romney will be happy with 2nd place. I think that contest is between Ron Paul, Huckabee, Brownback, T. Thompson, and Tancredo. Duncan Hunter just doesn't seem to be competing in Iowa - I heard him call in to a radio show once but that's it. These other guys basically live in Iowa right now. Whoever finishes 2nd or 3rd in Ames doesn't have to feel too bad but if you place 4th or 5th you're in big trouble unless it's just by a hair - even then you've got your work cut out for you. Actually, I think Ron Paul is the only one who could finish this low in Ames and live to tell about it.

The most encouraging thing is that those competing with Ron Paul for top-tier status are running out of money. Plus Dr. Paul has a lot of excitement going on outside of Iowa, unlike the rest of the gang.

 

[Joe Knows]

Does Anyone Know?

Since McCain and Giuliani are not participating in the straw poll on August 11th, will they still be allowed to participate in the straw poll debate on August 5th? Somehow it does not seem fair if they are allowed to participate in the debate when they are not participating in the event.

 

[Dave]

Since McCain and Giuliani are not participating in the straw poll on August 11th, will they still be allowed to participate in the straw poll debate on August 5th? Somehow it does not seem fair if they are allowed to participate in the debate when they are not participating in the event.

I wish. There's no real relationship between the debate on the 5th and the straw poll on the 11th. In fact, the dems are having a debate in Des Moines two weeks after the GOP on 8/19 at the same time on This Week with GS.

 

[BillyBeer]

I won't say Romney can't be beat but he has a helluva organization here and he's spent lots of time here and spent money like you can't imagine - mailings, TV commercials, radio commercials, print and online advertising, etc. He has 22 paid staff in Iowa alone. He's clearly the front-runner for Ames by a wide margin.

Romney's support may be broad but we'll see how deep. Support for Ron Paul is always deep but I'm not sure how broad it is yet - there just aren't enough Iowans who know the name Ron Paul.

This is why I dont think the Campaign should focus funds on Iowa. The machine candidates like Romney always win there. The outsiders do well In New Hampshire. It would truly be a stunning turn of events for Ron Paul to defeat Mitt Romney in his own backyard after Romney won the Iowa Caucus.

 

[FreedomLover]

But you gotta admit, Ron paul upsetting Flip Romney, whos basically spent all his time and money there, would be a thing of beauty.

of course it probably won't happen unless Ron Paul visits a lot more, and more people start hearing about him. Either that or the Ron Paul Iowans have their work cut out for them.

 

[Joe Knows]

I wish. There's no real relationship between the debate on the 5th and the straw poll on the 11th. In fact, the dems are having a debate in Des Moines two weeks after the GOP on 8/19 at the same time on This Week with GS.

I did not realize the events were not tied together. I thought the debate in Des Moines was timed particularly for the Straw Poll. Oh well. I hope Romney trashes McCain and Giuliani for being afraid of the Iowa Straw Poll.

 

[RonPaulVideoGuy]

Huckabee's organization is nothing like Romney's but it is much larger than Ron Paul's. He has 10-12 people and an office in Des Moines (I saw one of the Felons for Huckabee pacing in front of the office the other day. Ha!).

A new video that I posted on YouTube shows the "Felons for Huckabee" and "Flip Romney" characters. It's at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1MPduZoNnk