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Subscribe to RSSEarlier today, First Read described the political stakes in next week's Ames Straw Poll, especially for GOP presidential hopefuls Michele Bachmann and Tim Pawlenty.
Now here's a look at the efforts the various campaigns are undertaking to boost their performance at the straw poll, which takes place nine days from now on Aug. 13.
Note: Participants in the straw poll must purchase a $30 ticket, and Iowans of voting age by Nov. 2012 are eligible. In the past, thousands have participated in the contest -- which doesn't determine who'll win the Iowa caucuses or the GOP nomination, but which serves as a test of organization and as a way to winnow the field. And an additional note: Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney aren’t making a play to win the straw poll.
BACHMANN: For the day of the poll, the Bachmann camp has arranged for an air-conditioned tent, country music performers, funnel cakes, and a petting zoo. "You can stay as little or as long as you want to stay, or you can vote and leave," Bachmann said by telephone to supporters in Newton, IA on Monday. "We need to come together on Aug. 13, and make the down payment on taking our country back, and making Barack Obama a one-term president."
Also, this Saturday, Bachmann will sign the Strong America Now debt-reduction pledge. Signing it means that her supporters will be able to ride buses provided by the Texas-based issue group (as long as they also sign the pledge, too) -- an advantage the Bachmann campaign acknowledges. "We came into Iowa months later than others," Bachmann campaign spokesperson Alice Stewart says. "Any help we can get, we can use it." For more on Strong America Now, click here.
CAIN: He has introduced himself to voters during his 24 visits to Iowa since declaring his presidential bid, but he’ll give Iowans another chance to see him as he canvasses the state during his 15-stop “Common Sense Solutions bus tour. He's also in Iowa today, but not on the bus yet, making stops in Des Moines, Oskaloosa, and Clinton.
On straw poll day, the campaign will be serving pizza from Godfather's, the chain which Cain formerly ran.
PAWLENTY: A staple of a Pawlenty campaign visit has been the handful of interns who approach Iowans after each event -- to ask if they are attending the straw poll, and if they need a ride or a free ticket. The flyer they hand out promises a "day full of fun and excitement," with live music and food from one of the former Minnesota governor's favorites -- Dairy Queen. The Pawlenty campaign also has a website, iowastrawpoll2011.com, where Iowans can register for a lift or a free ticket.
PAUL: The campaign is asking supporters who live in Iowa -- or attend school there -- to go to Ames and vote for Paul in the straw poll. Supporters can sign up for a $10 package that includes: a ticket to the straw poll; food and drinks; entertainment at the Paul tent; bus transportation to and from the event.
Supporters who recruit five people to attend the straw poll are considered honorary “Straw Poll Supporters” and will receive a signed copy of Ron Paul’s most recent book, “Liberty Defined.” Those who recruit 10 people will be honorary members of Ron Paul’s “Iowa Leadership Circle” -- and get (in addition to the signed book) an autographed copy of the U.S. Constitution, signed by Ron Paul AND his son, Sen. Rand Paul. The grand prize for those who recruit at least 25 people and are a top five recruit? An exclusive meet-and-greet with Ron Paul, a personal photo-op with the congressman, a VIP front row seat at the Aug. 11 debate -- as well as that autographed book and copy of the U.S. Constitution.
SANTORUM: He has been offering free straw poll tickets and bus transportation to Ames. At every stop Santorum has had, he hands out a sheet of paper that invites "you, your family, and your friends to be his personal guests." And there's this: Santorum also pledges to provide anyone who signs up with free samples of jam that he and his family made from Pennsylvania.
A final note: Per one of the NBC's Iowa-based embeds, you can't turn on a radio station or local TV station without hearing ads for the Iowa State Fair, which also is taking place in Ames. But there really has not been that much promotion about the straw poll itself.
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I don't know. There's just something about Santorum Jam that makes my skin crawl.
Made my stomach 'lurch'! ;o)
Given his 'google' problem & all....
A Petting zoo - Dairy Queen & Santorum jam...
My, oh my, decisions... decisions... lmao
Only thing missing from the freak show, is the 'bearded lady', 'fortune teller' & 'dunk tank'...
It's the seeds. David.
FR: Santorum also pledges to provide anyone who signs up with free samples of jam that he and his family made from Pennsylvania.
Guess he didn't make very many jars or he's going to have lot's of leftovers.
Ira - are you amused or saddened that First Read just seems to want to ignore the little stock market dust up?
Or are they busily working on a story now?
What are the odds the next story is about Bachmann?
Shortage of seeds. ;-)
Spanky..
I just posted an FYI that the market was down over 500 points, about 4.5%.
Either no one cares or understands the magnitude of the loss of wealth in that big a drop.
That's trillions.
I'm too technical in my explanations so no one reads them. This drop is truly scary.
Seems like I'm not the only one with money under my mattress -- corporations have a record $1.5 trillion under theirs, and still they are not hiring.
http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/08/04/n_big_business_jobs_cash.cnnmoney/
Sheesh. I'd settle for a billion or two, and promise to hire a few people with it.
Hey, Congress, want to chip in? I would even buy a corporate jet or two so I could put some more people to work.
I do. I love geek ... I mean Greek ... (oh, never mind). ;-)
Anna Molly..
LOL...well that's one and Spanky...two...
Don't ever bet on a pair.
Shut your mouth AM. No way you would ever buy a corporate jet.
It is verboten in libbie-land. Only the evil, corporate bastards have private jets.
And I know you are not any of those.
High five for our little investment "plan." We started chatting about the whole thing tanking what, about 8 months ago?
Sucks to be so right, don't it?
Indeed, we did, Spanky. Probably right after the election, come to think of it.
And we weren't talking about any debt crisis in Italy, either. I believe we were talking about this very thing.
I wouldn't say it sucks to be right, but it's close. A lot of people are suffering and will continue to suffer over this. Hopefully the market will rebound quickly -- buying opportunities should appear pretty soon. I may wait a while, though, just in case.
And, actually, Spanky, I might buy one of those corporate jets after I heard about how many jobs it could create. I tell you what. Just to make you happy, and to adhere at least in part my liberal values, I won't expect a tax break.
;-)
Anna Molly..
Can you get back to loving that Greek thing...blush...lol!
[I just posted an FYI that the market was down over 500 points, about 4.5%]
So, Schpanky...anything to add? Are you glad? Sad? What...no "opinion" on this?
Why not go on record with your stance on the market dropping 500 points?
What?
What's that you say?
You can't? Or is it that you won't...
What's it gonna be Mr. Opinion... you're in the batters box...take a swing, empty suit...
Ira,
I'm too technical in my explanations so no one reads them. This drop is truly scary.
Keep them coming, I read them all, and thanks for taking the time to post. Only thing, now I just have one more thing to worry about. :)
Is it true in the last 9 days we lost 1.9 trillion dollars?
Okay AM so when do us super smart investor types jump back in and snatch up stuff on the cheap?
I await you signal, or is this a wonder twin powers thing?
You want to be the animal or ice thingy?
LoL I live to serve, Ira. Any language you like.
Lawyers love Latin, don't they?
A pair of what? ;-)
LoL I have no idea. I was hoping you might tell me.
A coming crash is easy to see. I saw the one in 2007, too, but didn't get out in time. Ouch.
Rallies are a little tougher, and this time as probably as tough as any I've ever seen.
thetotas..
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but it's true...
Over the last 9 days the market lost $1.9 trillion in capitalization.
I keep saying it,,,no one hears.
Oh...So you're the 3rd reader. Three of a kind.
Thanks.
LoL I'll let you pick. I love natural fur as long as it's still on the animal.
AM - form of an elephant; Spanky - form of an ice jet. Corporate, not special deprecation, and no Sec. 179 applicable.
See you all tomorrow.
When Santorum was here this week, he promised to pay the $30 ticket for those who go to Ames. The paper didn't say anything about jam but who knows, for some, that might just be the thing that makes them decide to hop on those buses.
The Ames Straw Poll amounts to a big campaign spending spree to essentially buy a place in the winner's circle. That said, a good time is generally had by those who go if they can survive the speeches. All the food, drink and now homemade jam you could want, free bus ride to/from.
In recent years, Paul does the best job of getting supporters there without as many give-aways.
MORE pledges?! Oh, well, at least she gets to use the buses.
How long are they?
 Just who is it that Bachmann wants to take the country back FROM? I wasn't aware we had been invaded or captured--perhaps by Colombia, Canada, Mexico, Catalina Island, Bahamas?? Just haven't heard. Perhaps SHE would like to enlighten US. Oh, sorry. Just realized what an oxymoron ACTUALLY is. Don't want to use "enlighten" in the same breath with "Bachmann." Trifling with the universe.
Obama, 2008: "We need to take our country back"
Just who is it that Obama wanted to take the country back FROM? I wasn't aware we had been invaded or captured...
That's diffrent Bob Obama said it, he means something when he says it
FYI..
Markets down over 506 points, almost 4.5%.
Nancy said ...hey, done deal...move on....no ramifications from the deficit ceiling deal.
The deal is done, long live the deal. (Well, maybe not.)
But now the same people who declared victory a couple of days ago are blaming the market implosion on the debt crisis in Italy. Funny how that goes, isn't it?
Then, why weren't they busy before they left on vacation doing something to address the debt crisis in Italy? And why did they leave on vacation, if a crisis in Italy was imminent?
Well, no matter. In the end, people who want to will find a way to blame it on the 2 percent of the deal that John Boehner didn't get.
Wait for it.
Anna Molly..
Uh oh...what you said.
Duck.
Bachmann's such a control freak, she won't let her petting zoo keeper thaw the turkeys until the day before the Ames straw poll.
I guess I won't be seeing any of the authors of this column at the fair because, as always, the fair will be held at the State Fairgrounds on Des Moines' east side . . not, as is indicated above, in Ames.
Just catching up on the FAA layoff's.
There are 4000 FAA employees laid off and an additional 77,000 constructions workers, engineers, contractors, etc
The republicans say this is about to cut $16.5 million in air service subsidies.
The democrats say what the Republicans are really demanding isn't token cuts in air service subsidies but reversal of a federal labor rule in order to make it more difficult for airline workers to unionize,
The fact is that $16.5 million in DC terms is a rounding error on a proposal. Totally absurd.
Question: If we're having this fight over $16 million in subsidies, how are they going to get $2.8 trillion in dollars in cuts as mandated by the debt ceiling bill?
They won't Ira that's the obvious point.
Either we get in 100% Progressive or 100%tea partiers. Otherwise ain't nothing going to change. At least that way, either way it goes, big things will happen.
Ira - I have on fairly large FINRA claim going against Wachovia. This market fluctuation thing is not helping my claim. Seen anyone over on Wall street jumping out windows yet?
Wishful thinking.
Naaa...the GOP guys are the profit takers and short sellers.
Wait...correction...today the democrats are also the profit takers and short sellers.
Now down 512 points.
Not since the Bush era have I seen a drop this large.
Makes estate planning a bitch.
FINRA...you're saying the demise of Wachovia and subsequent sale to Wells Fargo wasn't adequately disclosed....failure of regulators in their audit...interesting.
No, my client had an account with Wachovia before the sale to Wells.
Wells inheritied all the liability. It's is pretty funny - the broker does not work for Wells, but is being defended by a Wells in house atty. And of course they have "lost" all the documents and phone records.
I do enjoy the Finra claims, no jury, just a panel of arbitrators that know what they are doing.
Spanky..
This has to be the easiest money you've ever made.
Congrats!
[No, my client had an account with Wachovia before the sale to Wells.]
Still watching reruns of Allie McBeal, Schpanky?
So, want to go on record with anything?
Republican "hostage taking", perhaps?
The DOW droppong 500 points? Ohhhh, you like that one huh...admit it...that makes you smile, right Schpanky? Damn, that one just might cause a filling out of your empty boxers, right?
They are rarely ever easy IRA.
Besides the Wells In house atty. needs to earn her keep. Funny thing is my investment guy is a Wells Fargo Adviser.
So when is somebody going to shoot out an un-realized capital loss calculation for the economy? Or should it just be world wide and be done with it?
[So when is somebody going to shoot out an un-realized capital loss calculation for the economy?]
Still bull@!$%#ting the masses, huh Schpanky...must be nice...not to be held accountable...SWEET GIG, BRUH!
Spanky-
So when is somebody going to shoot out an un-realized capital loss calculation for the economy? Or should it just be world wide and be done with it?
That is sooooo geeky cool!
You want geeky cool, I'm your boy.
2012 can't be about picking the least worst of the worst choices for President.....
The Iowa State Fair is in Des Moines which is about 30 miles or so south of Ames. Fact checking is again missing from the news.
EJ I also posted that the State Fair is in Des Moines, but it didn't appear. No Iowan would mistake Ames for Des Moines. Iowa's GOP would never hold their straw poll in a Democratic strong hold. Too many Democrats would accept the free ticket to the event, and vote for the craziest Republican!
Def Leppard is the State Fair's musical guest on the 13th, I doubt too many Def Leppard fans will travel the 40 miles (in heavy Fair day traffic) from the State Fair grounds outside of Des Moines to go to Ames!!!!!!!!
Don't worry about the 500 point drop..the market was over priced in the run up and Wall Street ahs been living a fools paradise where the number don't match reality and haven't for quite some time. How can one exlpain a 12,000 point market and 9.1% unemployment?
The only reason the dow reached 12,00 was money inflows from Europens who fled the sinking Euro because of Greece,Spain and Italy. And with interset rate so low, the only way to make more money quicker is the stock Market. We here at Democratic Financial World do not call this a bubble yet..it is a perfectly logical conculsion on making money.
The disconnect between Wall Street and the real world has never been more obvious than now.