PHOTOS: Rand in Council Bluffs, Sioux City, Boone, DSM, Oskaloosa, Ottumwa, Marion, Davenport

[Gage]

Last Thursday and Friday I spent the entire day following Rand (and Kelley) on the campaign trail, with stops in Council Bluffs, Sioux City, Boone, Des Moines, Oskaloosa, Ottumwa, Marion, North Liberty, and Davenport. This included five meet and greets, two town halls, and two birthday parties. Every stop was packed wall to wall, exhibiting the campaign's ability to recruit people to come out and be a part of the campaign, on two days that were marked with heavy fog, rain, and snow. You can find links to more photos from each event below.

Hoping to return to Iowa very soon.

You can find photos from each event here:

Council Bluffs meet & greet: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gageskidmore/albums/72157661074470013

Sioux City meet & greet: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gageskidmore/albums/72157661074576693

Boone Eminent Domain Abuse town hall: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gageskidmore/albums/72157662825119140

Des Moines Birthday party: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gageskidmore/albums/72157663269814631

Oskaloosa Eminent Domain Abuse town hall: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gageskidmore/albums/72157663237908912

Ottumwa meet & greet: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gageskidmore/albums/72157663421933345

Marion meet & greet: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gageskidmore/albums/72157661071306554

North Liberty meet & greet: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gageskidmore/albums/72157663423587115

Davenport Birthday party: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gageskidmore/albums/72157661082635643

 

[Gage]

FYI the thing Rand is holding in the first photo are the names of the 1,000+ precinct captains in Iowa.

 

[TomtheTinker]

good photos! ty Gage.

 

[Gage]

good photos! ty Gage.

Thanks!

 

[JohnCifelli1]

Gage. You have the best job on Earth right now. If Rand wins Iowa, or dare I even breathe it, the nomination, you will look back and remember taking these photos forever.

 

[Kotin]

How's the ground looking these days.. Have you noticed anything we have missed just viewing from a distance?

 

[eleganz]

Looks like a first tier campaign to me!

Great pics!

 

[Gage]

Thanks John and eleganz.

@Kotin -- I spent a lot of time at the Iowa office before I left, see the video they posted with people making calls on the RandStudents twitter page. Expect that, if not more, heading in to the caucus.

 

[thedizzle]

Nice pictures. I keep getting gigs with politicians that I don't like. Lucky you!

 

[squirl22]

Thanks for the great pictures!

 

[speciallyblend]

FYI the thing Rand is holding in the first photo are the names of the 1,000+ precinct captains in Iowa.

though i don't have as much time to put in for rand as i could for ron paul. i have now donated more money to rand then i did ron paul. Please i hope you guys finish top 3 or win iowa. keep up the good work, might have a few more donations before iowa.

 

[francisco]

Great Job, Gage!

 

[Gage]

Thanks guys.

 

[adam220891]

Gage,

It seems that Rand often does events with between 30-300 people. I suppose this is part of retail politics and many of these smaller events will add up to talking directly to a lot of people. Do you get the vibe that many in attendance are Rand supporters or are undecided and looking to make a decision? Also, it seems they have some sort of brochure they are handing out. Does anyone have a digital copy of that?

Thanks

 

[rg17]

I have a feeling Rand will win Iowa and Colorado!

 

[Gage]

Gage,

It seems that Rand often does events with between 30-300 people. I suppose this is part of retail politics and many of these smaller events will add up to talking directly to a lot of people. Do you get the vibe that many in attendance are Rand supporters or are undecided and looking to make a decision? Also, it seems they have some sort of brochure they are handing out. Does anyone have a digital copy of that?

Thanks

Iowa events are smaller because they are inundated with so many visits. When I went to states like Washington with him, the crowd was exponentially larger. I have only talked to a couple people at events in Iowa. One elderly woman I spoke with in Oskaloosa I asked if she had seen Rand speak before, he spoke at the same restaurant in May, and she said no, but she also saw Huckabee the day before at the same venue. She told me there were a lot more people there for Rand than Huckabee. I didn't talk with her after the event, but Rand does a fantastic job selling himself on the issues, so it's a great way to connect with Iowans on a first hand basis.

 

[adam220891]

Iowa events are smaller because they are inundated with so many visits. When I went to states like Washington with him, the crowd was exponentially larger. I have only talked to a couple people at events in Iowa. One elderly woman I spoke with in Oskaloosa I asked if she had seen Rand speak before, he spoke at the same restaurant in May, and she said no, but she also saw Huckabee the day before at the same venue. She told me there were a lot more people there for Rand than Huckabee. I didn't talk with her after the event, but Rand does a fantastic job selling himself on the issues, so it's a great way to connect with Iowans on a first hand basis.

Thank you.

How does the energy compare to some of the other events you have covered? I see you have been to Cruz, Rubio, and Fiorina gatherings as well.

 

[Jackie Moon]

Great photos, and thanks for the reports.

This one is awesome. And is that Kelly on the glasses?

Iowa events are smaller because they are inundated with so many visits. When I went to states like Washington with him, the crowd was exponentially larger. I have only talked to a couple people at events in Iowa. One elderly woman I spoke with in Oskaloosa I asked if she had seen Rand speak before, he spoke at the same restaurant in May, and she said no, but she also saw Huckabee the day before at the same venue. She told me there were a lot more people there for Rand than Huckabee. I didn't talk with her after the event, but Rand does a fantastic job selling himself on the issues, so it's a great way to connect with Iowans on a first hand basis.

Yeah, I think if he wanted to he could go places outside of Iowa and NH and hold huge rallies, but that doesn't necessarily help right now.

An event with 300 people in their own town where he's able to shake hands, take photos, answer questions and collect their info is better than a rally with 3,000 people that just show up and then go home.

 

[r3volution 3.0]