County GOP leaders say Paul, Romney poised for caucus wins
Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney. Photo Courtesy Aaron Webb.
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Texas U.S. Rep Ron Paul are poised for high finishes in the Iowa caucuses but no one can seem to agree on who joins them in the top tier, local Republican leaders said Wednesday.
With less than eight weeks left until Republicans cast their votes, GOP leaders, who are planning some of the state’s largest caucuses, say the political tea leaves are hard to read.
In the Des Moines metro area, where nearly 80,000 GOP voters are registered, Polk County Republican Chairman Kevin McLaughlin said former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich is well-liked.
“He’s the candidate showing real progress right now,” McLaughlin said. “Whether you’re talking to social conservatives or social moderates, he seems to be acceptable to both camps.”
Meanwhile, in Republican-rich northwest Iowa, where President George W. Bush picked up 12,000 votes on the way to his 2004 General Election win, momentum has shifted to former Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum.
Sioux County GOP Chairman Mark Lundberg described Santorum as “probably about as solid a candidate as we have” and predicted he would pick up conservative pockets of the state, and a broad base of support among caucusgoers.
Minnesota U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, who has been lingering in the single digits in polls despite a victory in the Ames Straw Poll, appears poised to do well with voters on her home turf in Black Hawk County.
“It’s not so much her ideas or her plans, it’s more the pride of having a presidential candidate from your hometown,” said Black Hawk County GOP Chairman Mac McDonald, referring to Bachmann’s Waterloo roots.
McDonald also said Texas Gov. Rick Perry left a strong impression with voters there during the GOP’s annual Lincoln Day Dinner fundraiser, proving he could “look you in the eye and shake your hand,” and stood to perform well in the caucuses.
U.S. Representative and Presidential Candidate Ron Paul
The Black Hawk County Republicans are inviting both candidates, and all others competing for votes on Jan. 3, to the UNI-Dome on the Univerisity of Northern Iowa’s campus in Cedar Falls.
Originally they had planned to host a huge, televised caucus kick-off celebration, but have since abandoned the plan citing fundraising problems. Now they will invite candidates to greet voters prior to the 7 p.m. caucus.
“We’re pretty sure they will come,” McDonald said. “Where else do you have the potential to speak to 4,000 to 6,000 people directly before they cast their vote?”
Most voters are open to persuasion, according to Scott County GOP Chairwoman Judy Davidson.
Davidson, who is trying to nail down caucus locations for more than 30,000 Republicans in the area, said she believes the field is wide open and sees many voters that are still unsure of which candidate they support.
Dubuque County Republican Chairman Matt Giese said he senses many with that attitude are beginning to coalesce around Romney, who has been the frontrunner in national polling for much of the race.
“Here it seems like a lot of people are starting to flock towards him more,” Giese said. “He has a problem with the tea party a little bit, but I think he can at least get the majority of the conservatives to back him — at least that’s what it looks like here.”
In Warren County, just south of Des Moines, GOP Chairman Rick Halvorsen said former Godfather’s Pizza CEO Herman Cain retains a loyal base of voters who are eager to put a “non-politician” in the White House, despite recent allegations of sexual harassment.
McLaughlin suggested Cain had lost some traction to Gingrich over the past two weeks, as controversy has continued to swirl, but Halvorsen said that is not the case.
Many GOP leaders said Paul supporters are the most loyal activists on the political scene, though he might have trouble appealing to a broad majority of the electorate.
“They would walk a mile to caucus for him,” Halvorsen said. “If (Jan. 3) is a cold, snowy, blustery night, I bet he’ll do real well in Iowa.”
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Posted by Iowa Politics on November 10, 2011. Filed under Iowa.
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30 Solid Reasons why Herman Cain CANT win!
Dismissing the 08 downturn of the economy and then endorsing a stock during the downturn that lost 80% of its value costing investors hundreds of thousands $$
1) The investigation into election and campaign fund and law violations….
2) Bankrupting employee pensions at Aquila and getting sued for it.
3) Endorsing Alan Greenspan architect of the Real Estate Bubble.
4) Funneling over 100k in individual campaign donations to his company to purchase his book.
5) Not knowing China had nuclear weapons – whooops!
6) Godfather success story is based on his laying off 300 employees and closing 1/3 of the stores. The company never had growth or expansion afterward, it even lost 50% of its sales. How is that for success?
7) Breaking FEC laws on allowing a non profit to use funds for political purposes.
9) Donated to Mitt Romney’s 08 campaign and actively worked promoting Romney. Stating openly he would willingly be Romney’s VP.
10) Altered his “tax” plan to allow for hedge funds to make more.
11) Wants a gradual 23% unconstitutional national sales tax.
12) Pulling the race card 3x’s – Blaming others for his personal drama
13) Not wanting to audit the Federal Reserve
14) Voting for Clinton and Lunching with Henry Kissinger
15) Twisting and flipping on the issues till we are dizzy
16) Not knowing how to amend the Constitution
17) No Military, foreign policy or law/court background what so ever.
18) Border security is something to joke about and his border security plan mirrors Rick Perry’s down to the “Boots on the Ground Stance”
19) Proposing Opportunity Zones where SOME Americans will be exempt from Income Tax
20) Surrounding himself in his personal life with long term staunch Democrats which support Barack Obama.
21) An Economic plan that mirrors one in SIM CITY video game
22) Being Anti Abortion – making it illegal BUT advocating Pro-Choice – it is the woman’s right to choose (I still haven’t figured this one out). – So it would be illegal but it would be ok if the woman chose to do it..?? HUH?
23) Was against a flat tax before he was for it
24) Backed by the Koch brothers
25) Represented Whirlpool at a Security & Peace Partnership (North American Union) summit in Canada in 2007
26) He supported TARP
27) He supports the UN-Constitutional Patriot Act
28) Herman Cain’s 999 tax plan is revenue neutral, no tax-revenue will be lost, no spending will be cut, and the burden will be shifted from the wealthy to the middle-class
29) Bloomberg investigation alleges Koch subsidiaries paid bribes, sold to Iran (illegal trade)
30) His blatant flip-flop away from the Constitution with the killing of Anwar al-Awlaki. First he believed al-Awlaki deserved a trial, then he fully supported his assassination without an indictment or any form of due process.
RESEARCH YOUR CANDIDATE MORE!
25 Solid Reasons why Newt Won’t win!!
-Voted for the creation of the Federal Dept. of Education in 1979 under Jimmy Carter.
- Big supporter of Foreign Aid — even to Soviets through the Export-Import Bank.
- In one year (1994-1995) Gingrich voted for nearly $45 billion in foreign aid.
- He helped push through Federally-funded loan guarantees to Communist China.
- Urged the House to repeal the War Powers Act and give the Presidency more power.
- Urged Clinton to expand military presence in Bosnia.
- Supports Afghan War
- Supports Iraq War
- Calls for Iran War
- Supported Clinton’s welfare programs, education programs, labor programs, and environmental programs, as well as most of his foreign affairs programs.
- Supported spending $30B for the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 that shackled gun owners with new restrictions, federalized a number of crimes, and handed the feds police powers that the Constitution reserves to the states.
- Voted to give billions of dollars to United Nations “peacekeeping” operations;
- Pushed for a School Prayer Amendment
- Mentored by Henry Kissinger
- Bailed out savings and loan institutions in 1991. $40B Bank bailout
- He was a draft-dodger during Vietnam, yet advocates foreign interventionism in his political career.
- Worked on the Rockefeller presidential campaign in 1968.
- Card-Carrying member of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), a globalist think tank
- “Distinguished member” of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (neocon, pro-interventionism group)
- Member of Bohemian Grove
- Member of the World Future Society
- Voted for NAFTA, a blatant circumvention of Congress’ exclusive power to regulate commerce with foreign nations. Took power from American people and put it into the hands of unelected Binational panels, made mostly of foreigners.
- Supported GATT
- Supported WTO
- Continually supported increased federal spending.
I’m a Ron Paul guy but this article tells me nothing. Paul and Romney are poised for a win but everyone’s flocking to Romney? Watch out Gingrich is on the way up but Santorum is very strong and Bachmann is popular. You’ve got to be kidding, this is like reading those stupid tip sheets at the Race track where they mention every horse in the race and then the next day they claim “We told you so “
Go Ron Paul ! I hope my home state of Missouri gets behind Ron Paul for president.He is by far the best candidate in the race.
Dr. Paul is an absolute inspiration to me. As someone that voted for Bush twice and McCain last time, there is no other nominee that I can cast my vote for and feel proud except for Dr. Paul. His adherence to the Constitution, Plan to Restore America which cuts $1T in his first year, his understanding of fiscal and monetary policy along with his integrity as an individual makes him the clear choice.
Those points coupled with his service in the Air Force and the fact that he gets more donations than all of the other GOP candidates combined from Active Duty Military really shine and underscore his stance on foreign policy and non-interventionism.
I wish Dr. Paul the best of luck in Iowa and I think the young people there/college students will determine the winner.
I’ve said it many times, Paul is the only candidate that I would gladly stand in the rain, snow, sleet, freezing cold or blistering heat to vote for. It’s the least I can do to help save this imploding country.
I was surprised there was only like 2 sentences about Paul even though he was in the title. I think he will do a lot better than the rest of the GoP want him 2. I know at least 4 dems who switched party aff just to vote for Paul.
Paul’s supporters are the most energized because his philosophy has captivated them. The other candidates are simply pandering to various voter blocks with positions they hope will sell. Paul goes way beyond such crass politicking by trying to imbue the electorate with the vision of our founding fathers. Once that vision takes root, his positions on the issues are a natural consequence.
I am voting for Ron Paul for quite a few reasons. He was a medical Doctor and an Air Force Veteran. He receives the most donations from Active Military and Veterans, which means our troops support him. In fact, he gets more donations from Military members than all of the other Republican candidates combined. Did you know that? We as Republicans, should support who our troops overwhelmingly support. He is the only Republican with more troop support than Obama. Also, Ron Paul has never voted for an imbalanced budget or a tax increase! Ron also understands middle America more than the others. Cain’s buddies are his old co-workers in the Federal Reserve. Ron Paul’s buddies are working class people.
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Ron Paul leads in almost every straw poll and online poll. The fact that he is “unelectable” in the media’s eyes is irrelevant. He stands for what America wants and needs right now. Honesty, integrity and hope for a future without corruption in government. I’m a retiree, and he gets my vote in the primary and the general election.
I would happily walk a mile for Dr. Ron Paul.
When you find an honest candidate that speaks the truth on the issues that count, you are then required by a moral code to do everything legal, right, and moral in your power to see that he gets heard, and then elected.
As a 60 yr. old, life long Republican, he is the first candidate to whose campaign I ever contributed money or time. He has supporters from all walks of life, doctors, lawyer, housewives, home school parents, designers, nurses, students, welders, plumbers, computer operators, waiters/tresses, republicans, independents, disillusioned democrats, libertarians, etc……EVERY type of individual, a true representation of America.
He draws this wide base of people because folks have grown tired of the big govmt.ideas being foisted on us. They have researched his solutions, and know that this is what our nation needs.
His support is growing by leaps and bounds all across the nation as more and more people learn about him…..despite the attempts by the estalished GOP and the media to suppress, squelch, and dismiss him.
My only regret….our primary isn’t until May.
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“Remember, Remember the 6th of November. The bail out, treason, and plot. I know of no reason why the bail out treason should ever be forgot!”
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Pay Attention?, …there is ONLY ONE Man Running against Corrupt Congress and the Federal Government! The rest are bickering back and forth at each other.
( i am by partisan-i work with both- i promise you-bla bla bla, taxes, marriage,) while trying to hijack Paul’s view’s so they look good.
VOTE for the man running against Corrupt Congress and the Federal Government, and not each other.
Vote for the Oldest and wisest ! who won’t play their Game!
FLORIDA – MISSOURI’ DON’T GET FOOLED SOON YOU WILL BE A POLICE STATE BY CHOOSING MIT,NEWT,OR RICK!
Ron Paul 2012 the Man simply will not lie!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1pY7oSfcmc&feature=related
cant be bought