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Palin is coming

August 31, 2010 By

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin will make an appearance in Iowa on behalf of the Republican Party of Iowa.  Palin was last in Iowa in December of 2009, for a book-signing event in Sioux City.  The Iowa GOP issued a news release this morning:

Gov. Sarah Palin to Headline Iowa GOP’s Ronald Reagan Dinner

“Salute to Freedom” Event, Friday, September 17
 
DES MOINES – Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Matt Strawn today announced Governor Sarah Palin will be the Party’s special guest at the upcoming Reagan Dinner: A Salute to Freedom.

“The Iowa GOP is pleased that Gov. Palin is traveling to Iowa to join the battle to return principled, conservative leadership to Iowa,” said Chairman Strawn. “Our economic and personal freedoms are under attack in Washington, DC and Des Moines. I know Iowa Republicans will be energized and motivated by Gov. Palin to stand up and fight for these principles all the way to Election Day and beyond.”

The Reagan Dinner: A Salute to Freedom will take place the evening of Friday, September 17 in Des Moines. The exact time and location will be announced closer to the event. Tickets for the Reagan Dinner are $100 each, or $1,000 for a table of eight.

Strawn noted that while the former Governor of Alaska and Vice Presidential nominee is popular among Iowans, the current economy is challenging for many Iowa families who may wish to attend. That is why the Iowa GOP is offering Iowans an opportunity to volunteer through any of its ten statewide Victory Centers in exchange for a ticket to the Ronald Reagan “Salute to Freedom” Dinner.  For additional details regarding volunteer opportunities, Iowans should contact their local Iowa GOP Victory Center in: Ames, Cedar Falls, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Iowa City, Marion, Mason City, Ottumwa, Sioux City and Urbandale.

Tickets can be reserved by emailing RSVP@IowaGOP.org or by calling 515-282-8105.

UPDATE:  read some of what the national media is saying about Palin’s pending trip.  Jeff Zeleny of The New York Times talked about the “Iowa political terrain” in his post; Mark Halperin of Time offered half-a-page of analysis;  Peter Hamby of CNN says the trip comes at an “opportune” moment;  Chris Cilizza of The Washington Post uses the word “spadework” in his blog post.

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Braley responds to AFF ad

August 30, 2010 By

Congressman Bruce Braley (D-Waterloo) is running an ad to respond to an ad being run by the American Future Fund.  Braley’s ad has visuals of Willie Horton and Braley’s Republican opponent, Ben Lange.  The ad is running in two TV markets:  Cedar Rapids and the Quad Cities.

Here’s the script:

ANNCR: They’re back.

The folks behind the sleaziest ad in history – NOW backing Ben Lange…lying about Bruce Braley.

Truth is, Braley says New Yorkers should decide about building near Ground Zero…

…just as IOWANS should decide things HERE.

Big corporations are hitting Braley because he’d END tax breaks for those shipping jobs overseas.

Gutter politics fueled by corporate cash may work for Ben Lange.

But Bruce knows who HE works for.

TAG:
I’m Bruce Braley and I approve this message.

P.S.  Willie Horton was featured in a now-infamous 1998 campaign ad for George H.W. Bush, attacking Democrat Michael Dukakis.

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King says no to debating Campbell

August 30, 2010 By

Bret Hayworth of The Sioux City Journal has the story.  Congressman Steve King (R-Kiron) will not debate Matt Campbell of Manning, the Democratic candidate in Iowa’s fifth congressional district.  Campbell confronted King at an event in Sioux City, asking if he’d debate.  King told Campbell: “You have not earned it.”

A check of King’s Twitter account shows he has posted nothing about the episode.  His last tweet was last Tuesday. UPDATE:  King issued a brief statement late this afternoon:

King Statement:

“I have long said I will debate if my opponent develops an issues based campaign.  Clearly he has not and his most recent ‘fraternity prank’ at Western Iowa Tech Community College is conclusive.  Any discussion in favor of a debate is therefore concluded.  There will be no debate.  I will continue to take my message to Iowans and make myself available to them for an honest and open exchange of opinions.”

Here’s a news release from Campbell’s campaign.

Tea Party member says Steve King should debate Campbell –King looks to avoid formal debate for 8th year in office
[SIOUX CITY, IA]—Matt Campbell earlier today asked Steve King at a town hall meeting at Western Iowa Tech in Sioux City whether he intends to participate in a live television debate for the first time since being elected to Congress.  Steve King has never formally debated an opponent since being elected and says Campbell has not “earned the right.”  Campbell is the Democratic nominee from Manning, Iowa who won a competitive June 8th primary by a convincing 76% to 24% margin.

[Read more...]

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Maxine’s not coming, but Vicki is

August 30, 2010 By

U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters has cancelled her appearance in Des Moines tomorrow. 

Vicki Kennedy, wife of the late U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy, will headline an event for Governor Chet Culver next month.  She is the “special guest” at the fundraiser on Thursday, September 9 in central Iowa.  Individuals can pay $1000 to go; $1500 to be listed as a host or $2000 to be listed as a sponsor. 

Vicki Kennedy hosted a fundraiser for Culver in Masschusetts on May 10. Culver’s father, John, was a long-time friend of Senator Kennedy.

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Rees endorses Boswell

August 30, 2010 By

Read the Radio Iowa story here about today’s news conference featuring Republican congressional candidate Mark Rees and Democratic Congressman Leonard Boswell.  An mp3 of the entire news conference is posted at the end of the story.

The RPI and the campaign of Brad Zaun, Boswell’s Republican opponent, issued statements in response.  Neither addressed Zaun’s statement in June that Rees supported him.

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Braley targeted in new ad

August 25, 2010 By

The American Future Fund is following through on its plan to spend big $$$ in Iowa’s first congressional district.  Read today’s news release below.  Braley’s campaign spokeswoman responded here, calling the AFF a “shadowy group” and saying Braley took an oath to defend the Constitution, and that includes “fighting for religious freedom.”

AFF Launches TV Ad Blasting Bruce Braley’s Endorsement of Mosque Near Ground Zero
 
DCCC Vice Chair and Iowa Congressman insensitive and out-of-touch with Americans 
 
Des Moines, IA—Today, American Future Fund (AFF) launched a TV ad entitled “Mosque” in Iowa.  The 30-second ad highlights Congressman Bruce Braley’s support for a proposed Islamic mosque to be built two blocks from Ground Zero.

[Read more...]

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Berkshire Hathaway, Gateway founders weigh in on Iowa’s fifth

August 25, 2010 By

Matt Campbell, the Democrat who is running against Republican Congressman Steve King of Kiron in November, has a couple of big-name business types endorsing/investing in his campaign.  Read the releases below, along with a release about some other noteable endorsements.

Campbell Congressional Campaign Receives Warren Buffett Contribution

The Matt Campbell for Congress campaign has received a maximum $2400 individual contribution from Warren Buffett.  Mr. Buffett is the second billionaire to contribute to Matt Campbell’s campaign to be the next U.S. Representative for Iowa’s 5th District.  Norm Waitt, Jr. the co-founder of Gateway, Inc. of Gateway Computers fame previously provided a maximum contribution to the Campbell campaign.

Matt Campbell states, “Mr. Buffett’s contribution is not an endorsement, but I’m very appreciative to receive his financial support.  I hope others that want a new direction in western Iowa and better job development will follow suit.  We need to work smart to revitalize our rural communities and towns.”

MATT CAMPBELL’S IDEAS CATCH ATTENTION OF BILLIONAIRE NORM WAITT, JR.

[Read more...]

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Vilsack talks to Roger Simon

August 25, 2010 By

The Politico’s Roger Simon talked wtih U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack after yesterday’s news conference featuring Vilsack and Shirley Sherrod.  Read Simon’s column here.

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Kim Lehman’s tweet

August 25, 2010 By

Kim Lehman, the Republican National Comitteewoman from Iowa, has sparked a big debate with a tweet she sent last Thursday in which she said President Obama was a Muslim.  (Here’s a 2007 Radio Iowa story about Obama’s speech to the United Church of Christ state convention.  Here’s the blog post about his speech, in which Obama talked about his “born again” experience.)

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Sherrod says no thanks, she won’t take new USDA job

August 25, 2010 By

U.S. Ag Secretary met for 90 minutes yesterday with Shirley Sherrod, the Ag Department official he fired after an on-line controversy about statements she’d made in a videotaped speech.  She and Vilsack held a news conference after the meeting.

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