In Case You Missed It: Michele Bachmann’s (Really) Tough Week

#TweetFail, Iran tidbit, curious VP picks, ‘borrowing without asking,’ and missed SarbOx vote hinder clean execution – especially in Iowa

 

ANKENY, Iowa – Campaigning for our nation’s highest office is difficult, and Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) is experiencing a really tough week that isn’t even over yet.

 

On Tuesday, Bachmann’s Iowa campaign chairman Tweeted an under-140-character mini-gaffe, writing that there were moving trucks outside pizza baron Herman Cain’s Iowa headquarters, assumedly for a quick exodus from the first-in-nation voting state.  The offending Tweet even included a photo of the trucks.  The trouble is, the trucks were delivering thousands of campaign signs, requiring Bachmann’s Iowa campaign manager to apologize.

 

On Wednesday while in Iowa, Bachmann told supporters that if elected President she would close the U.S. Embassy in Iran as a gesture of her firm stance against the nation.  The only problem is, the U.S. hasn’t had an embassy in Iran since 1980, the year when Blondie’s hit single “Call Me” filled the airwaves, Mt. St. Helens erupted, and Ted Turner launched CNN.

 

Also Wednesday, Bachmann floated some names of those who might have the high honor of serving as her Vice President, should she be elected.  Names include such stalwarts as her strategic competitor Rick Santorum, and U.S. Senators Jim DeMint (R-SC) and Marco Rubio (R-FL).  The list also includes real estate developer and reality TV host Donald Trump.  Uh-oh.  Is this the same Donald Trump that left the Republican Party of Iowa holding the bag by backing out of the party’s annual Lincoln Day Dinner?

 

On Thursday, Bachmann’s name came up yet again.  This time it was for pilfering a list of homeschool family emails from the well-regarded Network of Iowa Christian Home Educators (NICHE), and using that list to send two communiques to this “niche” market.  The misuse of the email list was traced to a NICHE board member who is a paid Bachmann staffer, necessitating a multi-pronged email response to members from NICHE President Justin LaVan.  The email included the requisite apology to members, an assurance of corrective measures, and an interesting list of FEC compliance actions including giving other campaigns an equal opportunity to use this listserv for the same purpose.

 

Lastly, again on Thursday, Bachmann made what smaller and newer publicly traded business owners might call a fatal error in missing a key vote on the House Financial Services Committee.  Congressman Paul adjusted his New Hampshire campaign schedule to vote for a SarbOx compliance exemption for businesses of this kind.  Yet, Bachmann missed the committee vote and therefore she delayed a step toward regulatory relief for businesses already burdened with the kind of overregulation that prevents hiring, even during these trying economic times.

 

“Campaigning for the presidency is challenging and this fact is one of the reasons why my admiration for Ron Paul grows with every stop along the campaign trail.  On behalf of the whole Iowa campaign team, I’d like to wish Rep. Bachmann a future schedule free of hiccups,” said Ron Paul 2012 Iowa Chairman Drew Ivers.

Ron Paul Easily Wins Dubuque Tea Party Presidential Straw Poll

Bests Gingrich 59-24 after five elimination rounds despite Gingrich, Santorum telephone speeches

 

ANKENY, Iowa – 2012 Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul handily defeated his competitors in the Dubuque Tea Party presidential straw poll today in a demonstration of his Iowa operation’s organizational muscle and his support among tea party activists.

 Approximately 90 Dubuque Tea Party members were in attendance.  Five elimination rounds of voting took place and in round five Paul won 59 votes, defeating Newt Gingrich who garnered just 24 votes.  Exact numbers from each early round were unavailable.  However, Paul led the voting in all five rounds, for example winning 49 votes in the first round.

 

Paul won despite his competitors Gingrich and Rick Santorum calling into the straw poll.  Gingrich phoned in for five minutes and fielded three questions, and in addition to phoning in for five minutes Rick Santorum was represented by a surrogate.  Dr. Paul was represented by Dubuque Tea Party co-founder Jeff Luecke, who last June endorsed Ron Paul for the presidency.

 

“The Iowa team is gratified that Ron Paul supporters within the Dubuque Tea Party delivered our candidate a decisive victory.  We have always said that Ron Paul and tea party supporters have shared values, and today’s results illustrate crossover support in addition to organizational muscle,” said Ron Paul 2012 Iowa Campaign Chairman Drew Ivers.

 

The Dubuque Tea Party was founded in April 2009 and today it has approximately 500 members.  The first in-person Dubuque Tea Party straw poll was held tonight – Thursday, December 1st – at The Symposium Room of the Dubuque Best Western Plus, located at 3100 Dodge Street, Dubuque, Iowa 52003.  Earlier this year the Dubuque Tea Party in conjunction with Freedom Jamboree conducted an online presidential straw poll from August 25th through September 17th, and Ron Paul won it decisively.

 

Just yesterday, another Dubuque Tea Party co-founder, Michael Heeren, endorsed Ron Paul.

Ron Paul to Visit Newton, Davenport & Burlington

Visits manufacturer, holds two town hall meetings

ANKENY, Iowa – 2012 Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul will visit Central and Eastern Iowa on Monday, October 10, 2011.  Dr. Paul will first tour a wind power parts manufacturing firm in Newton before hosting town hall meetings in Davenport and Burlington.

“Especially in the wake of Ron Paul’s prior visit when voter turnout for his town hall meetings was high even in the rural areas, we are pleased Dr. Paul will return for what promises to be another productive tour,” said Ron Paul 2012 Iowa Chairman Drew Ivers.

Details of the events are as follows.  All times Central.

Monday, October 10, 2011

10:00 a.m.

Plant Tour & Meeting w/ American Wind Energy Association*

TPI Composites

2300 N 33rd Avenue E

Newton, IA 50208

12:30 p.m.

Davenport Town Hall Meeting

Figge Art Museum – John Deere Auditorium

225 West 2nd Street

Davenport, IA 52801

3:00 p.m.

Burlington Town Hall Meeting

Port of Burlington – North Bay

400 Front Street

Burlington, IA 52601

*Open to media; not a public event.

Ron Paul Attracts Big Crowds During Today’s Multi-City Iowa Tour

Holds 3 town hall meetings, will attend Story GOP event

ANKENY, Iowa – 2012 Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul received a warm reception during today’s daylong tour of Iowa.  The 12-term Congressman from Texas held town hall meetings in Dubuque, Clinton and Muscatine and was set to attend the Story County Republican Chili Supper.

“With each visit to Iowa, Ron Paul attracts large crowds of supporters whose interest in his candidacy is intensifying.  At the town hall meetings, Iowans appreciated Dr. Paul’s knowledge of the issues, his candor and the gracious manner in which he tries to greet as many voters as possible,” said Ron Paul Iowa Campaign Chairman Drew Ivers.

At least 150 voters attended Dr. Paul’s Dubuque town hall, 165 at his Clinton town hall and more than 150 at his Muscatine town hall.  The campaign’s Iowa Vice Chairman David Fischer described the crowd yields as “strong to extraordinarily competitive,” especially in the smaller settings of Clinton and Muscatine.

“These numbers are evidence of something special happening in Iowa and America, and they are proof of Dr. Paul’s steadily rising competitiveness,” said Mr. Fischer.

In addition, all members of the Iowa team who staffed today’s events noted that Dr. Paul was particularly engaging during the question and answer portion of his town hall gatherings.  At the conclusion of his Muscatine town hall, Dr. Paul was set to travel to the Story County Republican Chili Supper.