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Subscribe to RSSDES MOINES -- Mitt Romney this afternoon will once again campaign in the state where his presidential ambitions first began to unravel back in 2008.
The former Massachusetts governor will make two campaign stops in Iowa, hosting a business group roundtable in Pella, and attending a Polk County Republican fundraiser in Des Moines.
This is only Romney's second trip to the Hawkeye state this year. While his name will appear on Saturday's straw poll ballot, he is not actively organizing a presence there, and will be in New Hampshire when the straw poll ballots are cast.
A light footprint in Iowa marks a significant departure from Romney's 2008 strategy. In that campaign, he poured in $10 million and of much of his time into barnstorming across Iowa building support and name recognition. Romney won the straw poll in 2007, and touted Iowa’s importance.
“If I’m lucky enough to be the nominee, you’ve got to win the purple states,” the former Massachusetts governor said in his straw poll victory speech. He ultimately lost the state to a surging Mike Huckabee.
Entering the fall campaign as the prohibitive front runner this time around, Romney's supporters say he is free now to pursue a different Iowa strategy.
"The first time we spent a lot of money on the straw poll because you have to; it’s a test of organization and strength, and to build name recognition for someone who came into Iowa with a 2% or 3% name ID," explained Iowa State Representative Renee Schulte, who was a county organizer for the Romney campaign in 2008, and is now a state co-chair for his campaign. "Now everyone knows him. This year, it would not make sense to use your resources on name recognition and name ID and the early television and all those things for a straw poll because his name ID is already high, and people already have respect for him. "
The campaign hopes that familiarity, and the former CEO's relentless focus on the economy, rather than social issues, will eventually be able to win over Iowa's famously socially conservative voters, particularly in the state's center and West -- Huckabee country in 2008.
"On jobs and economy, it’s your bread and butter; it’s your foundation," Schulte said. "If you don’t have a job, and you can’t feed your family and provide the things that you need then the other issues become secondary very quickly."
Despite the candidate's relative scarcity here, the message may be working. Romney's poll numbers in Iowa remain strong. Michele Bachmann leads in most Iowa polls, but Romney hangs around in second place – albeit in the 20s. There’s no telling exactly how a Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) candidacy would change the dynamic. Perry would likely become Bachmann’s chief rival to be the Anti-Romney. If Bachmann and Perry split the conservative vote in Iowa that would bolster Romney’s chances.
Following Thursday night's debate in Ames, Romney will fly once more to New Hampshire, the state where he has done the bulk of his retail campaigning this cycle, for an open house event on Friday. His campaign, which has stayed mostly below the radar, has pledged that the governor will return to Iowa more in the coming months, but Schulte says don't expect anything quite like 2008's campaign blitzkrieg.
"He’s running the campaign differently." Schulte said. "That’s what I would expect of him, since once of his special talents is turning around businesses and companies and things that didn’t work and making them into viable companies. When you run a campaign the first time, and it doesn’t get you where you want to go in the end, it doesn’t make sense to do the same thing twice."
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The invisibility cloak isn't going to work, Mitt.
By the way - How is living in your son's unfinished basement going? You know, the formal address you use?
I'd pay good money to see a 'cage match' between Willard & Slick Rick...
*popcorn*?
Popcorn!
Buttered, with a hint of garlic.
And, yeah. A cage match would be entertaining - Especially if they did it in a room full of mirrors.
More of a natural setting for the two.
Are you kidding?
The two of them would be too distracted fixing their hair... lol
*popcorn* sounds yummy!
He and Perry are both creepy!! There is something sinister about the two of them.
He changes strategy like he changes suits. Just as greasy.
The Republican primary is so friggin' boring we have to entertain ourselves with Gordon Gekko versus Bush III cage fighting. That's the real story folks.
LoL Bush couldn't beat the Geico gecko in a fair cage fight, much less Gordon Gekko.
[He changes strategy like he changes suits. Just as greasy.]
Anna! I'm surprised...talking about our dear Spanky like that...
Every single one of you have Vagina's , but that's acceptable for Feisty and Anna!
What???!!
"On jobs and economy, it’s your bread and butter; it’s your foundation," Schulte said. "If you don’t have a job, and you can’t feed your family and provide the things that you need then the other issues become secondary very quickly."
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Of all the candidates Romney is the one who cares least about the plight of the American worker, I mean he is pro corporate/big money to the bone, always was and always will be.
It's that 'everyone else is an apostate' mentality.
Had to chuckle at a lot of the comenatry yesterday about Obama's campaign wanting to paint Romney as 'weird'.
What would they say if the campaign tried to paint Romney as, say, a Kenyan, Muslim, Communist or worse, that also 'pals around with terrorists' ???
I don't know, drive-by - having your perfect strategy "to win over Iowa's famously socially conservative voters" being to studiously avoid discussing.....ummm..... social issues......well, that does seem just a teensy bit "weird" to me. But I guess that's why I don't make the big bucks he's paying his campaign strategists. If I were him, I think I'd give some thought to that last line, though:
"When you run a campaign the first time, and it doesn’t get you where you want to go in the end, it doesn’t make sense to do the same thing twice."
Drive-by---I was especially amused by the outrage expressed by the Romney camp---I saw the word "despicable".
He is the reason why Massachusetts is now called taxachusetts. If the tea party doesn't like raising taxes, they're definitely not going to like him. He is also the reason why Massachusetts is 47th in the country on job creation.
Also saying the president's campaign is despicable while receiving a $1 million "straw" contribution (illegal) is a bit hypocritical. When reporters tried to call the donor who confessed, the phone was answered by Bain Capital.
President Obama will not lower himself to Republican swift boating. It is legitimate, however, to view Romney as Gordon Gekko, and to wonder how a stone's-throw-away Warren Jeffs would be as POTUS and leader of the free world. Serving as governor is one thing, but the White House is another thing entirely.
Another republican " WEIRDO" !
What does Gov. Romney promise with regard to the economy? He didn't favor raising the debt ceiling. He thought the auto companies in Detroit should go without government intervention (and shed jobs). How does his experience make a difference? Can he turn the economy around in 2 years? 3 years? Can he promise private-sector jobs to those currently out of work? I have been paying attention and I have not heard what he WOULD do, only that he thinks the President is a nice man who doesn't know much about the economy. I don't know who Gov. Romney would entrust the economy to (which economic advisers, for example). Nor do I know which economic advice he feels is useless. If he is a true business person, he would have indicators he looks at....could he share them with prospective voters?
"Kate" all the Gov can do is double down on the same old republican tactics - cut taxes, cut programs and wait for the mystical "job creators" whoever they are. GWB had the same policies, where did that get us? Mr. Romney built his wealth when he was with Bain Capital, essentially venture capitalists, they bought up companies, restructured (dumped the workforces) and cut them to the bone, then sold off to the highest bidder. His efforts lost more jobs than gains and he would take that same approach as president. I have nothing against the guy personally but any republican will use the same playbook, going back to Regan...
Romney's big government big spender history makes him a favorite of the progressive democrat press
Madison, I'm from Massachusetts and we know Romney well. He's certainly no favorite among Democrats. When Romney was elected governor, he ran as a moderate. He was pro-choice and favored civil unions. In addition, he was against the Iraq war and the Bush tax cuts. He signed into law a health care bill that now covers 98% of the people. It's a popular program. Nobody is calling for its repeal.
However, once Mitt decided to run for president, he disavowed all of his moderates positions. To appeal to the hard right base of the GOP, he completely changed. Voters here will never vote for this phony again.
"R Bell" That's Romney's problem - now he wants to be a teabagger. Trust me, if he stayed true to his convictions and stayed moderate he would have a good shot, but he sticks his finger into the political winds too much for my liking...
Where did you pull that line out of?
The two of them kinda mirror each other.. like mirror image twins. Popcorn...light on the butter!!!
Willard Romney has never created a single job, except for himself where he made $250 million killing jobs and bankrupting companies. This guy would be a horrible president. The only good thing about the wing-nuts is they won't let him get the nomination (not for a good reason but because of his religion).
Romney, the highest polled of the possible contenders for the presidency, has decided not to spend as much as he did to get the nomination from Iowans. I say Iowans are very conservative but they have their own minds, which I hope are open enough to realize they are being played by the big bucks for their votes. Americans for Prosperity belongs to Dick Armey Texas Republican/TEA bigot and "Citizens for a Strong America" (CSA) advertises its address as "834 Park Avenue #306" in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, but this address is nothing more than a box at a UPS Store. These are Storefronts for TEA party bigots infusing monies into races to effect their narrow minded views in hopes they will sway votes. And we have Rick Perry from Texas vying for Iowans votes and to that I offer:
Perry's greatest accomplishments in Texas:
A 34 billion dollar budget deficit
Texas Ranks #1 in population living below the poverty line ( 17.2 % ).
•Worst environmental record in the United States
•Ranks #1 in illiteracy
•Ranks # 1 on the poorest gun regulations in the US and highest per capita gun murder rates in the US
•Ranks #1 with the highest real estate taxes per $1,000 value of a home in the United States
•Ranks #1 in the lowest high school graduation rate
•Ranks #1 with the highest interest rates “pay day” companies can charge
•Ranks # 1 in those making below minimum wage
•Ranks 50th ( dead last ) in Teacher Pay
•Ranks # 1 (26.5%) who lack health insurance
•Ranks # 1 (20.3%) of children who lack health insurance
•Ranks # 1 in the highest per capita executions in the world
•Ranks # 50th in $ spent for Medicaid for the poor and children
•Ranks 50th ( dead last ) in $ spent on its citizens
•Ranks # 1 in the # of food insecure children.
•Ranks 49th ( the 2nd lowest ) in Medicaid $ given to nursing homes
•Ranks 2nd highest in teen births
•Ranks #2 with the highest home insurance rates
•Ranks #2 with the highest sales tax
•Ranks 49th in $ funded for the mentally ill
•Ranks #1 with the highest overall pollution rate
•Ranks #1 in adults under correctional control
•Ranks #1 in adults under probation
Rudy, in other words, Perry is the perfect Tea bagger candidate for president. Let's bring America down to Texas level statistics. Go Republicans!!
The fact that Romney has no chance doesn't bother me a bit but, the sad thing is, it looks like the Bilderberg secret society has picked Perry. I only hope that America will do some research into that and stand united for a change. Why else to you think that secret groups want to divide us. United we stand, divided we fall. Rick Perry would be the perfect puppet for Bilderberg.
Yep that sounds like Texas alright. Would never want to live there again.
Go Mittens,
Tell the good people of Iowa how your business experience of cutting up companies and shipping jobs overseas in order to prop up your bottom line translates to a healthier American Economy...Because, that is your strong point right? Business?
Iowa, I strongly encourage all of you to do a 10 minute google search of Ron Paul. At least take a look before casting your votes at Ames.
Two new RP vids on youtube:
VjobFWCnmlc
4S28ORYk0CQ
Enjoy
Ron Paul at Ames! A win for Ron Paul is a big win for America!
He could very well win, a long shot might be a sure thing in this atmosphere.
Sorry, but Ron Paul has no chance. The powers that be wouldn't allow it.
If this nation is left with choices like Obama, Bachmann, Romney, or Palin, then God help us. He has every chance as long as people actually vote for him. Point blank, you can't show me a candidate running that can even hold a candle to his record, his ethics, his intelligence, or his platform. So why would you vote for anyone else? The only answer is "because the Main stream media told me not to." If America is that brainwashed, then we are going down!
Good, its always good to spread fresh manure over the fields. This heaping pile should go a long way.
Hey Mitt, if you're going to dish it out you have to be willing to take it. But your that spoiled little brat we all grew up with, you can bad mouth everyone else but when someone bad mouths you, you run to mommy crying. Grow up Mitt.
Romney Returns to Iowa after wandering off. Nobody knew where he was and what he was doing, especially Mitt Romney. All he could say was, "It's Obama's fault".
He's almost Obama like isn't he...
At least Romney has somepathetic lies and an insincere smile.
Crap, exactly like Obama...
[Crap, exactly like Obama...]
Who pissed in your Corn Flakes this morning...just suck it up, dude...you got five more years to go....you keep that up, you're going to have a breakdown.
Romney is an empty suit with a plastic head.
Sadly, he is a republican version of Obama in some ways. The differences are Obama ignores his base, Mitt acquiesces to his base. Mitt waffles upfront, Obama waffles afterwards. Mitt sticks his finger in the wind to assess which way to go, Obama uses his "yes" men's fingers...
WASHINGTON -- While other GOP presidential candidates race to win Saturday's Ames Straw Poll, Mitt Romney is quietly racking up support among Washington power brokers and heavyweights in the Republican party. His early lead in fundraising with lobbyists, Wall Street donors, and bundlers who raised money for George W. Bush and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is testament to this strategy.
According to disclosure reports filed at the end of July, 61 registered lobbyists and five lobbyist-linked political action committees contributed $137,650 to Romney's campaign between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2011. The former Massachusetts governor raised more money from lobbyists during this period than all of his competitors combined.
The other Republican candidates who received contributions from lobbyists in the first half of 2011 were, in order of most money received, former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty ($63,204), former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman ($31,600), former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) ($25,500), former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum ($8,800), and Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn) ($125). The Obama campaign and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) do not accept contributions from registered lobbyists.
You can see where Willard Romney's loyalties lie, and it most certainly is not with the people.
therm, feisty, dbo, please help me. what does it mean when a high ranking man in the bam bam re-election machine says they are going to "kill Romney"?
For starters, it wasn't a high ranking man - it was a Democratic strategist who to my knowledge is NOT a member of President Obama's campaign team...
Thanks for playing!
Millions are out of a jobs, cause by these so called Politicians
Now they want to be President. What's the different beside your own greed & benefit.
None of you have the Characters or Honesty for certain.
Whit all the money spend for running, you all could help out a great deal.
Of course, only if you realty really care about the Country & the people.
But for decades now, none of that EXIST.
"You can't be trusted."
Evangelicals are great. They talk directly to God, so don't need to understand issues. They pray and God tells them what to do every day. Can't beat that. They should have us out of this mess in a couple of months while simultaneously ending the drought in Texas.
Romney is nothing more than another phony, self-serving career politician who changes his tune every other day to appease the current audience. He's blasting Obamacare, as if everyone forgot about Romneycare. If he's the best the GOP can do, they're in big trouble.
I'm just wondering which of the two, mitt (who on Earth names a kid, mitt???), or Lucifer Perry comes out of the closet first???
Come on folks, this isn't a horse race, it's a race between dead chickens!
Mormons come up with a name like Mitt. :)
Men - And who comes up with a name like Hussein?
When we select any other professional - doctor, football coach, car mechanic, etc. - our number one criterion is his/her capability to do the job. Not how good-looking; not how convincingly they can lie, not religious beliefs (or lack thereof); not professed philosophies. Those things may be important, but not the most important. Number one is, and should be, their capability to do the job.
Arguably, the most important aspect of the job is the ability to create consensus and harmony among the different factions in government, and in the country as a whole.
We have just gone through yet another disturbing political turmoil. In the aftermath, everyone is finding someone to blame, and the anger just continues. Obama is taking heat for his influence (in whatever direction) in the stalled economy, but that is not what he should be blamed for.
For whatever reason, Obama has been a total failure at bringing people together.
Heap blame and scorn on whomever you now consider to be your mortal enemy: GOP, Liberals, Tea Party, Rich, Poor, it doesn't matter. It is the very fact that we are so divided that must be laid at Obama's feet.
He has driven our country apart.
It is the teabaggers that have driven the country apart, not the president.
You can't bring people together who have no desire to do so. The teapugnicants have been very up front about their refusal to meet the other side half way. They are quite happy to stand in the middle of the room and kick and scream at the top of their lungs about hating every and anything that the other side proposes. They'd rather follow the rantings of an angry, hatefilled, racist, self centered old man like Mitch McConnell.
Romney will never win as POTUS he like the others stand back see what's happening then bad mouth on the opposite side ha! ha! ha! The problem is we all see the game and yep the next presidential election is going to be heavy-meaning a lot of folks are going to be voted out and those who stand for the "PEOPLE" will be put in.
There is something not right with Romney, Palin and certainly Perry they are just creepy people you better not trust!
Romney is very creepy. He reminds me of that plastic headed Burger King.