Here a list I’ve compiled of Republicans who’ve visited Iowa since November 4, 2008 (Election Day) and are/have been considered potential presidential candidates in 2012.
Governors
- Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour: keynoter at Iowa GOP fundraiser in June, 2009.
- Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee: booksigning tour in Iowa in late November, 2008; keynoter at Iowa Association of Business & Industry convention, headliner at fundraiser for GOP gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats in June of 2009; booksigning tour in Iowa in November, 2009; keynoter at campaign fundraisers for GOP gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats in February, 2010.
- Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal: keynoter at Iowa Family Policy Center event in November, 2008. (Jindal said in April, 2010 he was not running for president.)
- Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin: booksigning in Sioux City in December, 2009.
- Former New York Governor George Pataki: American Future Fund speech in Des Moines in April 2009; fundraiser for Scott County Republicans in November, 2009; Revere America kick-off event, April, 2010.
- Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty: keynote speech at Iowa GOP fundraiser in November, 2009; keynoter at Iowans for Tax Relief event in April, 2010.
- Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney: booksigning in Des Moines in March, 2010.
Lawmakers
- Congresswoman Michele Bachmann: appearance via video at Iowa Tea Party State Convention in November, 2009; keynoter for Congressman King fundraiser in April, 2010.
- Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich: American Future Fund event in Davenport, Iowa House GOP fundraiser in Cedar Rapids, Polk County GOP fundraiser in May, 2010; candidate training, fundraiser for congressional candidate Brad Zaun, July, 2010.
- Congressman Ron Paul: campaign fundraiser for state senate candidate Kent Sorenson in November, 2009; keynoter for Campaign for Liberty conference in Des Moines in May, 2010; keynoter for Iowa GOP convention-eve event in June, 2010.
- Congressman Mike Pence, Iowa GOP fundraiser in Linn County, Congressman King fundraiser in July, 2009; appearance via satellite at an Iowa GOP rally in Iowa City in April, 2010.
- Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum: American Future Fund speech to Dubuque, appearances in central Iowa in October, 2009; keynoter for Iowa Christian Alliance event in March, 2010; keynoter for luncheon at Iowa Republican Party state convention in June, 2010.
Additional notes
Nevada Senator John Ensign was in Iowa early in June of 2009 to deliver an American Future Fund lecture. Lots of stories were written at that time, describing Ensign as a potential 2012 candidate. It was right before the story broke about Ensign’s affair, ending such speculation.
On the Democratic side of the ledger, President Obama has visited Iowa three times since November 4, 2008. Obama was in Newton on Earth Day, 2009. Obama was in Iowa City on March 25, 2010. Obama was in southeast Iowa/Ottumwa on April 27, 2010.
Vice President Biden was in Iowa, campaigning for Governor Chet Culver, on May 18, 2010. (He mentioned the BFD.) Biden was also the keynote speaker at the Iowa Democratic Party’s Jefferson-Jackson Day fundraiser in November, 2009.
About O.Kay Henderson
Kay is a founding member of the Radio Iowa network newsroom. In 1994, she became the network’s news director. She’s a featured reporter and commentator on Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press,” and the 2002 recipient of the Shelley Award.
Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson rode all of RAGBRAI last week. He is the honorary chairman of Our America Initiative, and spoke at numerous events throughout the week. The Washington Examiner just named him one of the top 5 likely Republican candidates.